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Imagine a school where your child is exposed to different cultures, a global mindset is instilled, and native languages and mother tongues converge- a school where the world meets in a classroom.
If you envision such diverse environment for your child then we invite you to come and join this multifaceted journey of multilingualism at ISKL. To start, we have curated a list of the top 10 frequently asked questions about multilingualism, paired with insightful guidance! Stay tuned as we unveil this resource, but first, let us delve deeper into the benefits of multilingual education.
There are many benefits to fostering multilingualism at an international school such as ISKL. Students can sharpen problem-solving skills, enhance critical thinking, and engage with diverse cultures in an inclusive learning environment. Multilingualism helps build a more interconnected and understanding community, allowing students like Enya and Zhao Yang to celebrate a valuable part of their identity.
Whether a student’s connection to language is through their heritage or simply because they found a love for learning a new language, an international school such as ISKL presents them with pockets of possibilities to forge friendships and nurture a genuine appreciation for the profound role languages play in our lives.
The love for languages doesn’t just stop with our students. Our strong commitment to school-wide partnerships ensures that our entire community embarks on this beautiful linguistic journey together.
Il était une fois… Middle School students took part in bringing a reimagined fairy tale to life! They volunteered to participate in the French voiceover of Cendrée-Rions, the French version of the animated film and twisted tale ‘Cinda-Real,’ a reimagined version of the Cinderella story.
Middle School French teacher Marie-France Blais led the group of eight mainly non-native French language students in recording their voiceovers in French for the film. Their dedication and hard work as a team paid off as the film was awarded the Sound Universe Award at the 14th edition of the International Festival Entr’2 Marches in Cannes, France, which showcases short films focusing on people with disabilities.
The Power of Language in Helping Others
High School student Mei Y. found a fantastic way to utilize language as a powerful tool to help other students. After meeting with nurses and EAL teachers at ISKL, Mei, who is an EAL student, became well-versed in pain charts and was able to create Japanese, Korean, and Chinese medical translation posters for the nurse clinic. This helps other EAL students feel comfortable expressing their needs in their mother tongue.
Students Translate ‘Makan Latino’ for a Cause
The Latin Women’s Association of Malaysia launched a fabulous cookbook, Makan Latino, to share their members’ best recipes, from traditional dishes from their home countries to international dishes from all over the globe.
To share the gift of teaching others about delicious international delicacies, ISKL students helped translate the book to share with the Malaysian community, giving them an authentic experience in utilizing their Spanish! All proceeds raised from book sales go towards supporting the education of 180 refugee children at Fugee School in Kuala Lumpur. With their help and skills, Makan Latino, found its way into the kitchens of many.
Student Journalism in Spanish
Our High School students in the Spanish Language and Arts class wrote for an “Aló Aló” issue by the Latin American Women Association by contributing articles written and translated from Spanish to English entirely by themselves! They were free to pick the topic of their article and chose to write about a broad range of topics.
The collaboration presented students, both native and non-native speakers, with various advantages: the development of journalistic writing skills, the linking with the Latin community in KL, and the awareness of the strong potential that the Spanish language presents in other contexts besides the domestic and academics.
High School World Languages Head of Department Leandro Venier had his research paper “La necesidad como factor para aprender una segunda lengua” (Necessity as a factor to learn a second language) published by Multi-Lingual Scientific Journals Educational Research from Spain.
The article examines how learning English as a second language impacts students’ motivation and performance at ISKL. It highlights that these students, who have no prior knowledge of English, need to learn it not only for academic purposes but also for active school and community participation. It provides valuable insight into the multilingual environment at ISKL and how it has become a highlight of international education.
The language barrier can be one of the hardest things to overcome when moving to a new country—but with so many people speaking so many languages at ISKL, it creates the best environment to learn!
Vincent Cee, ISKL HS Music teacher, shares his experience learning Bahasa Melayu: “It is a beautiful language, and I am curious to see if I can eventually read and write poetry and make funny jokes. I’m thankful for how supportive everybody has been to teach me a word or two a day and for how people are willing to listen to my strange accent.”
ISKL’s world-class educators come from around the globe to share knowledge with our students. Our language department is no exception, bringing their expertise in languages and a diversity in culture to share with our community. Check out some of the features we have done on our language department teachers in Panthers of ISKL to discover their stories!
Parents Foster English Proficiency and Cultural Bonds
“Let’s Converse” are parent-run conversational English classes open to ISKL parents who wish to improve their conversational English skills in an easy-going, warm, and friendly setting! The sessions were run completely by parents and teacher volunteers and allowed for the learning of language and the intercultural exchange we see so often at ISKL.
ISKL Parents Enhance Language with Cultural Adventures
As the dynamic and international-minded community, ISKL parents decided to push the concept of conversational English classes to intercultural exchange with the English/Mandarin Cultural Exchange program, which included hiking, cooking, a tea ceremony, and much more.
Every year on February 21, International Mother Tongue Day (IMTD) is observed with the goal of fostering global linguistic and cultural diversity. Parents and teachers recorded stories in languages other than English to honor IMTD.
The event was well-received and appreciated by all. We had stories told in Thai, Czech, Hindi, Italian, Urdu, Chinese, Danish, Korean, Turkish, Japanese, Malay, Tamil, Dutch, and French!
Embracing Bahasa Melayu with Community Classes
Bahasa Melayu conversational class sessions hosted by ISKL’s Staff Association and were open to all community members. They covered phonics and handy topics such as learning how to ask for directions, typical greetings, and what to say at a restaurant.
If you wonder what parents can expect from a diverse school like ours, we have the perfect guide! Download our interactive e-book on the 10 most frequently asked questions about languages at ISKL today.
Interactive eBook Download
No. 2, Lorong Kelab Polo Di Raja, Ampang Hilir, 55000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Tel : + 603 4813-5000 | Fax: + 603 4813-5100 | Email: [email protected]
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Latest update: October 26