Native Language @ ISB

Community Resources

August 3, 2023
by ISB Native Language Programs
0 comments

Sign Up for Panther Native Language Academy

Welcome to the 2023-24 school year! Sign-up is open for after-school classes in the Panther Native Language Academy. 
 
PNLA registration is part of Activities Registration, open online on CCA through August 15. Steps:
 
1. In PowerSchool/CCA, register for your language under Activities: Native Language. Pay the fee of 8000 THB covering Seasons 1 & 2, August 21-February 2. (Note: Dutch tuition differs and should be paid to DCS.)
 
2. Watch for an email or survey about scheduling from the Native Language Coordinator.
 
Please feel free to browse more information and our concluding photos from 2022-23.
 
Here’s to a language-rich 2023-24 school year! 
 
 

June 16, 2023
by ISB Native Language Programs
0 comments

Thank You, Panther Native Language Academy Teachers!

Dutch-with-Mr.-Meinders
French-with-Ms.-Montero-Nahoum
German-with-Ms.-Klempin
Hebrew-with-Mr.-Rubin
Japanese-with-Mr.-Muroga
Japanese-with-Ms.-Nakamachi
Japanese-with-Ms.-Watanabe
Korean-with-Ms.-Jung
Mandarin-with-Ms.-Fan-and-Khun-Tuu
Mandarin-with-Ms.-Li
Mandarin-with-Ms.-Tang
Mandarin-with-Ms.-Wang
Thai-with-Khun-Jib-and-Khun-Tuu

[Show slideshow]
As the 2022-23 school year concludes today, we share images from Panther Native Language Academy classes taught by the teachers active in Seasons 3-4.

  • Dutch with Mr. Meinders
  • German with Ms. Klempin
  • Hebrew with Mr. Rubin
  • Japanese with Mr. Muroga, Ms. Nakamachi, and Ms. Watanabe
  • Korean with Ms. Jung
  • Mandarin with Ms. Fan and Khun Tuu, Ms. Tang, and Ms. Wang
  • Thai with Khun Jib and Khun Tuu

Gratitude to all!

April 5, 2023
by ISB Native Language Programs
0 comments

Are Some Languages More Difficult Than Others?

Parents of multilingual children sometimes want to know how hard it would be for their children to learn a new language. How much time would it take? Would some languages be easier than others?

It depends on the language(s) the child has used since birth. Research shows that a language with similar features would less time to acquire, and a language with different features would take more time. 

A new article from ABC Education in Australia says more:

Are some languages more difficult than others?

March 22, 2023
by ISB Native Language Programs
0 comments

March 27 is the International Day of Multilingualism

March 27 is the International Day of Multilingualism. We love how families at ISB prove that #MultilingualIsNormal! How will you celebrate this occasion? 

Don’t forget to join us for the Raising Multilinguals “How?” parent workshop on March 28, 7:45-9:15 a.m. in MPB 3!

A parent day in PK2 Thai class! Teacher: Dr. Pimolpun (Jib) Burapharat.

March 7, 2023
by ISB Native Language Programs
0 comments

Join Us for Raising Multilinguals “How?” a Follow-up Parent Workshop

How can parents nurture native language besides speaking it with their children and enrolling them in classes?

Find out by joining us on 28 March 2023, from 7:45-9:15 a.m., for the workshop Raising Multilinguals How? Unlocking the World Through Language-Rich Experiences.

In this workshop, a followup to Raising Multilinguals, we will explore how families can promote literacy (reading and writing) and rich conversation, in support of the family language plan.

Parents of students in PreK through Grade 12 are welcome! The workshop will be held in MPB 3. If you have any questions, please write: nativelanguage@isb.ac.th

February 21, 2023
by ISB Native Language Programs
0 comments

Happy International Mother Language Day!

February 21 is International Mother Language Day, a “day to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism,” according to the UN.

ISB marked the occasion with an all-division parent workshop, Raising Multilinguals, as well as with a book display in the ES Hub. 
 
What are other great ways to celebrate? Happy #IMLD2023!

February 8, 2023
by ISB Native Language Programs
0 comments

ISB Language Snapshot, Semester 2022-23

What languages might you hear on ISB’s campus these days? Here is a snapshot based on student data for Semester 2, 2022-23 (click to enlarge).

Note: This graph shows the number of students for whom each language is listed as Student Language in PowerSchool. The data is incomplete, as multilingual students could report only one Student Language, and some families did not report a language.

Below is one more snapshot, of how many ISB households are likely to be multilingual. The green portion, just less than 24 percent, represents families for whom English is listed as Student Language, Parent 1 Language, and Parent 2 Language in PowerSchool. The blue portion represents all families for whom that is not the case.

Since English is a common language at school, it may come as a surprise that most ISB households are not monolingual, English-speaking households. This graph makes that reality visible.

To check on your family’s language data in PowerSchool, contact us anytime: 

nativelanguage@isb.ac.th

January 25, 2023
by ISB Native Language Programs
0 comments

Join Us for Raising Multilinguals, a Parent Workshop

On Tuesday, February 21, 2023, from 7:45-9:15 a.m. in MPB 1, ISB faculty and administrators will offer a workshop for parents from all divisions (ES, MS, HS) about maintaining students’ native languages while they also study in English at ISB. This will be similar to the Raising Multilinguals workshop offered in prior years, and is especially useful for new families.

At this workshop, faculty and administrators will:

  • Present reasons to maintain native language, based on research
  • Describe language classes and resources available at ISB
  • Discuss the importance of making a family language plan

Please join us! Parents of students in PreK through Grade 12 are welcome. For further information, please email: 

nativelanguage@isb.ac.th

January 21, 2023
by ISB Native Language Programs
0 comments

Register for Sessions (Seasons) 3-4 in Panther Native Language Academy

Registration is now open for Panther Native Language Academy classes for Sessions (Seasons) 3-4, which will begin on February 6. Sign up until Wednesday, January 25 at 6 p.m.!

Calligraphy and a dragon for Chinese New Year in lower ES Mandarin classes. Teachers: Zhouying Wang (top) and Chinchin (Jeannie) Fan (bottom, shown).