Students’ cultural and linguistic identities are valued and nurtured through our international curriculum and Home Language Programme.
Supporting home language literacy is central to the ISL Mission. This commitment goes beyond preserving cultural connections and providing a soft landing. Research over the past three decades increasingly shows that maintaining home language and literacy in the first language, alongside the development of a new language, is in the learner’s best interests. It is important not only for continued language development but also for overall personal and educational growth.
| Home Languages Offered for Academic Year 2025-2026 | |
|---|---|
|
العربية
Arabic |
Français
French |
|
Español
Spanish |
Deutsch
German |
|
Ελληνικά
Greek |
Nederlands
Dutch |
|
Italiano
Italian |
日本語
Japanese |
|
Português
Portuguese |
Pусский
Russian |
|
Svenska
Swedish |
Türkçe
Turkish |
Home Language and Literacy
Home Language support goes beyond cultural identity. All subsequent language and academic study are built upon the mother tongue foundation, which is why students should learn to read and write in their own languages.
Lessons focus on reading and writing, speaking and listening. Teachers use a wide variety of resources including worksheets, recording devices, texts and videos. Songs, games and drama further enhance their learning.
Home Language Programme
The Home Language Programme at ISL Qatar “aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect” (IB mission statement).
The Home Language Programme promotes respect for the literary heritage of a student’s home language and provides an opportunity for students to continue to develop oral and writing skills in their mother tongue while studying in a different language of instruction.
Maintaining and developing language and literacy skills in the mother tongue:
- Enables students to remain in touch with, and maintain esteem for the languages, literature and cultures of their home countries.
- Makes it possible for students to re-adjust to life in their home communities and education systems should they return to their home countries.
To date our school had offered Home Languages Classes in Arabic, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish, Greek, German, Italian, Dutch, Russian, Japanese and Turkish. We are constantly adding more languages depending on need and availability.