Native Language @ ISB

Community Resources

November 22, 2023
by ISB Native Language Programs
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Why is Being Bilingual Good for Your Brain?

“It used to be thought that being bilingual was a bad thing – that it would confuse or hold people back, especially children. It turns out, we couldn’t have been more wrong.”

This BBC video (posted on October 30, 2023) explores what bilingualism does in the brain, and the benefits to being bilingual. One of the featured speakers is Thomas Bak, co-founder of the International Day of Multilingualism.

November 6, 2023
by ISB Native Language Programs
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Work Out in Your Languages!

Did you know? The refurbished ISB Fitness Center has treadmills and stationery bikes with software that runs in many ISB languages.

Users can adjust the settings to make text appear in different languages for tracking workout sessions and statistics. To learn how, just ask supervisor Khun Dee (below). 

Using technology in all of one’s languages can reinforce reading skills—a linguistic workout to go with the physical one!

The Fitness Center is open to students in HS and grade 8, to faculty and staff, and to parents. Students can learn more from their PE teachers and coaches. Parents can sign up to use the facility by logging in to PowerSchool. Under Miscellaneous, click: Fitness room agreement

October 6, 2023
by ISB Native Language Programs
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New Opportunities in Panther Native Language Academy in Season 2

Panther Native Language Academy Season (Session) 2 will begin on November 6, with some new opportunities on offer:

  • a new Spanish option for ES (K-5)
  • open slots in PK2 Mandarin (please choose one: Tuesday OR Wednesday)

All other languages continue straight on from Season 1 with no change. Families who registered and paid for PNLA in Season 1 have already paid for Season 2 as well, so no need to re-register.

Registration on CCA for Season 2 will open on October 9th at 6pm and close on Thursday, October 19th at 6pm.

Questions always welcome! PantherNativeLanguageAcademy@isb.ac.th

Students play a Pictionary game called “Wer bin ich?” in lower ES German class. Teacher: Christine (Tina) Klempin

August 3, 2023
by ISB Native Language Programs
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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
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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
  • French with Ms. Montero Nahoum
  • 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. Li, Ms. Tang, and Ms. Wang
  • Thai with Khun Jib and Khun Tuu

Gratitude to all!

April 5, 2023
by ISB Native Language Programs
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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
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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.

February 21, 2023
by ISB Native Language Programs
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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
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ISB Language Snapshot, Semester 2, 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