Mother Tongue Week, 2021 at Seisen International School

Mother Tongue Week, 2021 at Seisen International School
  • Elementary
  • Former Student's Association
  • High School
  • Kindergarten
  • Middle School
  • Parent's Association (SPA)
  • Teachers
Dr. James M. Hatch

November 12, 2021

Dear Parents/Guardians and Members of the SIS Community,
Next week, SIS will celebrate our community’s Mother Tongues (Home Languages). The goal is to promote awareness of the linguistic and cultural diversity that is multilingualism.

As stated within our Language Policy:
At SIS, language is valued as central to developing critical thinking, which is essential for cultivating intercultural awareness, international-mindedness and global citizenship.

To help mark this week, not only will morning prayers be in many languages, but we also have several events planned for K-12.

Below is an outline of age-appropriate activities planned within the various divisions, and we encourage you, where possible, to get involved.

Parent/Guardian Opportunities

  • K-12 parents/guardians/grandparents are encouraged to record a video reading a story to their child (in their mother tongue) and share it using this Google form: SIS Mother Tongue Week Videos 
  • If you do not have a personal Google account, please use your child’s Seisen International email (Grades 3 and above).
  • You are also encouraged to leave a recorded message to our community in the above folder in your mother tongue. Please be sure to let us know which language is being spoken. 
  • At home, make a concerted effort to use your mother-tongue, such as: watching a movie, discussing aspects of your language, telling stories etc.
  • A couple of helpful information points for mother-tongue/home language importance can be found HERE and HERE

Kindergarten/Elementary

  • A variety of activities are planned throughout the week. 
  • Daily poem read in a non-English mother tongue and explained in English;
  • Students are encouraged to leave language messages in the cafeteria.
  • A display of simple greetings in the cafeteria (hello/goodbye) in their home languages
  • Stories shared in home languages

Middle and High School

  • Students will reflect and map their language journey (this may include all languages, such as those of math, science, music etc.).
  • On Thursday, in the extended homeroom period, students will collectively design an inclusive and specific poster that explores the language journey of their particular homeroom. These posters will be digitised and shared with the community.

We encourage you to embrace this week as an opportunity to draw attention to the beauty and power of your mother tongue. Take time to share both the tangible and intangible aspects that mother tongue can bring to life with your child.

Submit SIS Mother Tongue Week Videos

More Seisen News