By Helen Absalom, primary ENLA teacher and multilingualism expert. In the picture some children of the German Language Club.
In its 12 year history, ISU has enjoyed 9 years of Home Languages Clubs. Started in 2016, the clubs were inspired by a teacher who had visited the ‘Multilingualism in International Education’ (MLIE) conference earlier that year in London. At the conference, the importance of maintaining our students’ home languages was talked about in depth by leading language acquisition experts in the field of education. On her return, with the help of parents, the teacher set up the first three clubs: German, Portuguese and Tamil. All these years later, the three clubs are still running and we have continued to add to the number of languages offered.
Why we have Home Languages Clubs
At ISU, we recognise the many benefits of home language maintenance and are proud to support our multilingual community through our Home Languages Clubs. These after-school initiatives provide a space for students to practice and celebrate their home languages with peers and supportive parents. Our aim is to foster linguistic confidence, intercultural competence, and lifelong connections to the languages that shape who our students are.
Developing additional languages
Maintaining a child’s home language is essential for the development of any additional languages. Research shows that a strong foundation in the first language supports literacy, vocabulary acquisition, and cognitive flexibility in any additional languages learned. Children who continue developing their home language often achieve better outcomes in school, as the transfer of language skills strengthens their overall language competence. In addition, children who learn to read and write in the home language before the age of 12 are 50% more likely to continue to speak their home language.
Strengthening family and cultural connections
Beyond academics, a child’s home language serves as a living link to their culture, values, and traditions. Through stories, songs, customs, and expressions passed down in the family language, children develop a sense of identity and international mindedness as they see their peers developing their own home languages, too. This cultural grounding fosters emotional resilience and confidence, enabling children to navigate and thrive in multicultural environments.
Home languages also play a vital role in maintaining strong relationships with extended family members, such as grandparents, cousins, and relatives who may not speak the school or community language. These intergenerational connections provide emotional support, cultural continuity, and meaningful life lessons that shape a child’s sense of belonging and heritage.
What do we do in the clubs?
Clubs have a variety of purposes:making friends from the same language group across the school, celebrating cultural events through the homel anguage, practising reading and writing in the home language, playing games and HAVING FUN!
Who teaches the clubs? Well, it could be YOU!
Please contact us if you would like us to work with you to organise a Home Languages Club for your Home Language.
Email our Language Coordinators Helen Absalom (for primary) and Amy MacGregor (for secondary) to show interest or ask any questions that you have.