By Sarah den Heijer, English teacher Language Hub
While the use of home languages is encouraged throughout the school, the Hub provides a particularly supportive environment in which multilingualism can flourish. The space promotes integration, strengthens students’ sense of belonging, and encourages meaningful connections between students who may otherwise struggle with the everyday demands of communicating in English.
Multilingual events
This academic year, the Hub has once again successfully hosted a range of multilingual events in collaboration with the MYP Service as Action initiative. These events have provided students with opportunities to meet peers from different grades who share the same home language and cultural background. To highlight the impact of these experiences, several students shared their reflections on what multilingual connection within the Hub means to them.
Denis L., Denis T., and Dmitrii (Grade 10) frequently attend the Language Café to play Russian card games and connect through their shared language. Reflecting on his experience, Denis L. explained that “meeting new people in the Hub who speak my home language means a lot to me because it helps me feel more like a part of our community.” Denis T. similarly shared that speaking his home language within the Hub allows him to “feel included in the ISU community and have personal connections.”
Realm (Grade 6) and Layan (Grade 7), who both speak Arabic, met through a Language Café earlier this year. Realm described the experience by explaining that when she speaks Arabic, she “doesn’t need to think about every word,” and that she feels happy “when someone speaks my language and I can know more people who speak Arabic.” Her reflection highlights the comfort and confidence students can experience when using the Hub.
'Express my feelings with ease'
Similarly, Tilbe (Grade 9) and Duru (Grade 6) connected through their shared home language after meeting for the first time during the Literature Week book review café. Tilbe reflected that she enjoys “meeting and speaking to people in my home language in the Hub and through Language Cafés because it allows me to speak comfortably and express my feelings with ease.”
Kate (Grade 9) and Dana (Grade 8), who both speak Ukrainian, also formed a connection through the Language Café initiative. Dana commented, “I enjoy meeting and speaking to people in my home language in the Hub. For example, I met Kateryna through Hub!”
End-of-term celebration
The Language Hub will conclude the academic year with an end-of-term celebration café, where students will come together to celebrate their achievements and continue building multilingual connections through their home languages. The students should be incredibly proud of their contributions and participation throughout the year, and the Hub team looks forward to continuing to strengthen and celebrate multilingualism within the school community next academic year.