Mother Tongue Programmes

The IBO recommends that, from at least the age of 7, all students in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) have the opportunity to learn more than one language.

UISG strongly promotes international-mindedness on everyone’s part.

While the school’s medium of instruction is English, we recognise the importance of bilingualism and strengthening our students’ home languages. The school encourages access to different cultures, perspectives and languages.

Research shows that children with a strong foundation in their home language can be more successful at school and enjoy greater self-worth and identity than their monolingual peers. Developing a child’s mother tongue language enriches personal growth and helps facilitate international understanding for both the student and their peers. By continuing to have opportunities to engage in their mother tongue language, learners can build on the language skills they have already established. The development of mother tongue language skills also facilitates learning additional languages.

The ability of our students to speak languages is highlighted year after year by the number of students completing a bilingual IB Diploma. The mother tongue programme promotes students’ native language and culture.

Primary Mother Tongue Program

Primary School’s Mother Tongue curriculum is based on the PYP Language Scope and Sequence and AERO standards. The teaching of Mother Tongue languages includes using oral and written language to make sense of the world and to communicate, problem-solve, and participate in decision-making. The foundation for these literacy skills is language and understanding how language works.

Secondary Mother Tongue Program (Language and Literature)

MYP & DP Language and Literature

In Secondary, UISG’s Mother Tongue Program continues through our Language and Literature courses, offered in seven languages: Chinese, English, Korean, Japanese, French, Spanish, and German. This diverse range of languages creates a rich, dynamic, and inclusive learning environment that aligns with the IB philosophy and emphasizes the benefits of a multilingual and multicultural education. Our strong mother tongue program is crucial to students’ academic success and overall well-being, providing them with a broader perspective and the skills they need to thrive in an interconnected world.

As they develop their language skills in their Mother Tongue, our students build a deeper connection with their cultural heritage, benefit from a sense of identity and belonging, and develop their cognitive skills. Looking ahead to the next semester, our priorities include further streamlining practices across languages to provide more opportunities for students to transfer their skills and gain cross-cultural understanding. We also eagerly anticipate celebrating Mother Tongue Days, embracing the IB multicultural philosophy, and fostering a truly inclusive and enriching learning environment that celebrates diversity.