Language Policy

Language Policy Philosophy

The language policy is a document that is developed by our school’s Academic Council Team Members that is suitable for both the boy’s and girl’s sections . This document summarizes our school’s linguistic and academic goals in addition to defining the programme that is designed to help our students attain these goals. 

The main purpose of this policy document is to provide an overview that guides individuals with principles for language learning at AIS. This policy is applied throughout the entire school’s curricula, which can be conveyed in our culturally rich and diverse environment. Our policy is a statement of agreement, one to which all the staff members and the AIS community are asked to commit to in order for our school to achieve its mission. The language policy stimulates life-long learning. Developing language learning skills enables students with the capacity to solve problems, think critically and act creatively. Language empowers students to understand, interpret and respond to ideas, attitudes and feelings. Information literacy and technological adoption is also shown to provide a gateway to life-long learning and a rich range of language learning opportunities. The language policy recognises the transfer of cognitive skills from the first language to English and vice versa, which can be used in the acquisition of additional languages. This process encourages the acquisition of higher order thinking skills and development of comprehending multiple perspectives. The policy also recognises the importance of all teacher’s abilities to promote differentiating instructions to support students with different levels of language acquisition.

Beliefs and Aims

AIS aims to nurture an appreciation of the richness and diversity of language. Language  is shown to do much more than promote cognitive growth and development, rather it is also an integral part for maintaining cultural identity and emotional stability. The acquisition of one or more languages and the ability to maintain an individual’s first language enrich personal growth and help facilitate international and diverse understanding. As language, by its very nature, is integrated into all areas of the curriculum, in a sense that every teacher within the school is considered a language teacher. At AIS, the aim is to foster student’s ability to think and express themselves with precision, clarity, confidence and creativity in at least two languages. Language development in more than one language enriches personal growth, provides cognitive advantages and is essential to the development of multicultural mindsets and perspectives. The school strives to address particular challenges of those students who are learning a language that is different from their first language. This is accomplished by providing an integrated and well-implemented English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme in all of the school’s sections. We aspire to integrate students’ Islamic, cultural and linguistic heritage throughout the curriculum.

AIS LANGUAGE PROFILE

Although every student in our school is required to use English as a means of communication. Our school is known for its diversity which has more than 30 different nationalities that use their first languages to communicate outside the classrooms. All of our administrative and teaching staff speak English in addition to another language fluently.