Understanding a language serves as the cornerstone of human interaction. The purpose of this policy is to ensure language development of students and foster effective communication in different languages in a variety of contexts. We wish our students to use language as means to explore different points of view and embrace intercultural understanding.
The school’s main language of teaching is English and offers learning several languages as a second language of choice. Mandarin is as a third mandatory language of study for our high school students. Accordingly, the school continues to facilitate language development in different forms, assist students with low/no-English skills and encourage acquiring additional languages and their cultures.
The following languages are available according to space availability:
- Hebrew
- French
- Spanish
- German
- Russian
- Arabic
- Mandarin (Being mandatory for High School Students)
Aims
At TreeHouse International School we recognize that each of us is a cultural being.
We value the similarities and differences each person’s cultural heritage brings to our lives. As language is the primary means of communicating and understanding, our aims of teaching languages are as following:
- To promote values of respect and understanding within our community
- To explore different values and perspectives through the study of a language
- To promote language acquisition in a variety of contexts.
- To recognize the diversity of student language needs
TreeHouse International School serves the educational needs of our international community including adjusting language acquisition for students from diverse backgrounds.
Language Policy Within Our IBDP
Being an IB school, we wish to promote the importance of language learning, including mother tongue, host country language and other languages. The IB aims to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. Our school will support students with limited English proficiency across its IBDP curriculum:
- Daily reading and writing exercises including writing prompts, reading comprehension checks, assessments and essays.
- Speaking English on a regular basis including learning additional languages
- Promoting reading/writing strategies
- Providing reading materials and encouraging exploring different literary works and sources of information.
Strengthen the school’s High/ Low Achiever as well as English for Non Speakers programs (including DP):
Students of all ages/needs are supported by a strong professional team
Providing all students access to the curriculum is a primary responsibility of all THIS teachers.
At a foundational level, all teachers offer differentiated instruction, taking into account students’ individual learning styles, strengths and weaknesses.
Student support might be given as follow:
- Parents/ students meetings
- In-class support
- Small group instructions
- Individualized instruction support
- Specialized services offered off-campus
IB Second Language
Within our Diploma Programme, our high school students will be able to choose one of the following languages to choose:
- Spanish (ab initio)
- French (ab initio)
Further language acquisition choices will be updated on the website when available.
At TreeHouse International School we recognize that each of us is a cultural being. We value the similarities and differences each person’s cultural heritage brings. We encourage language learning, including mother tongue as well as other languages, as opportunities for intercultural understanding. Within our Diploma Programme students are encouraged to use language as means to explore different concepts and perspectives. Our IBDP curriculum offers opportunities for students to develop their understanding and appreciation of global literature. To support learning through differentiation in language lessons based according to the standards and practices of the IB. Additional support to overcome language barriers as well as enhancing language/communication skills, is provided through our special teaching program (SPT).
Policy Development
This policy was written in alignment with the IBDP Programme standards and practices. The school policies are reviewed annually by the school coordinator, teachers and school administration. Our school policies are available online and are communicated within our community via the processes described
- School policies are available on the school website at: https://www.treehouse.co.il/policies
- School policies are also distributed/explained within the school’s Student/Teacher Handbooks
- The IB coordinator provides documentation to the IB teachers with regard to the latest IB principles and practices.
- School policies are communicated with parents during Forum/Parents meetings.
- Information regarding latest school updates will be provided via email/publications within our social media accounts.
- Students are informed of school policies and procedures throughout the school year.
For more information about the IB standards and procedures please visit the The International Baccalaureate® (IB) official website:
