Page 21 - FIS World JUne 2024

Celebrating Linguistic Diversity
A multitude of languages reflect the joy of discovery and connection
Last February, the Primary School came alive with a vibrant celebration of linguistic diversity as Grade 1 hosted a World Language Day. The event, inspired by the United Nations’
International Mother Language Day, which is held each year on 21 February, exemplified the school’s dedication to celebrating linguistic diversity and nurturing cultural appreciation among our young students.
A variety of languages were represented at the event, including Arabic, American Sign Language, Bulgarian, Chinese, English, German, Hebrew, Hungarian, Japanese and Korean, among others. The celebration would not have been possible without our amazing group of volunteers (parents, teachers and neighbors in our local community) who generously shared their linguistic talents to read stories in their home languages, engaging the students with stories from around the world. They also led a variety of activities that ranged from making crafts and playing games, to origami, painting and baking.
The Grade 1 hallways were full of energy and there were many
smiling faces, reflecting the joy of discovery and connection. “It was fun because I got to speak my language with kids in the other classes and I met a new student,” said Grade 1 student Addison. Other students spoke about how they enjoyed the activities.“I loved when I could make something crafty,”noted Liu. “It was easy because we could speak Korean.” Another Grade 1 student Rona spoke excitedly about the experience:
“We made cookies of the alphabet and our names in Hebrew. It was so yummy and I liked it because my mom came.”
The language celebration also connected to the Grade 1 unit
of inquiry centered around the transdisciplinary theme of "How We Express Ourselves." Anchored in the exploration of diversity, identity and belonging, the unit encouraged students
to celebrate the richness of human expression in all its forms. The central idea, "Exploring diversity, identity, and belonging inspires us to create," served as guidance throughout the day’s activities.
As children immersed themselves in the stories and activities offered in their home languages, they not only broadened their linguistic skills but also developed a greater understanding of their language identity and how diverse our international community truly is. Students discovered that language is not only a tool for communication but also an integral aspect of their identity, facilitating empathy, understanding and a sense of belonging within their diverse community.
Angela Campagna
Primary School English Language Acquisition (ELA) Teacher
Students enjoyed stories read by parent volunteers in their home languages
May 2024 FIS World 19