Language Policy

Language Policy at IELEV

In accordance with the school's stated mission, The Language Departments of IELEV High School aim to help each student develop communication skills to the fullest potential by providing a curriculum geared to enhance listening, speaking, reading, writing and critical thinking skills. Emphasis is also placed on developing the self-esteem and confidence of our students so that they become independent learners. We also believe that we must provide a nurturing, friendly environment in which they are tolerant and respectful to other cultures to enhance learning, to promote the open exchange of ideas, and to allow the students to feel comfortable enough to discuss their problems with learning.

IELEV High School prioritizes a trilingual learning environment. In terms of the organization of languages, Turkish is our native language and English and German are the foreign languages. In our school we only have native Turkish students, no foreigners. Before students are enrolled in prep classes, they are given both German and English placement exams to see if they should be in the English or the German class. The students in the English class study 20 hours of English plus 8 hours of German a week. It is 20 hours of German and 8 hours of English for the German class. Students are mixed in grade 9 as they are expected to have reached a certain level of English and German (B1 level) proficiency in order to succeed academically. The students who can’t pass prep class are given another official exam in the following September. If they are successful, they can pass to grade 9. In grade 9 they have six and in grade 10 they have five hours of English and German per week. At IELEV learning world languages is an integral part of becoming a world citizen. That’s why the GIB program is highly appreciated by all stakeholders of the school. Both English and German are offered in all grade levels and learning other foreign languages is encouraged. The principal objective of IELEV language policy is that all students will be competent in both languages. Students will be offered SL and HL English and HL German in the DP. Language teachers implement the language policy by using English/German inside and outside of the classroom for interacting with students.

Objectives:

• To develop use of the languages of the school through the five skills
• To enable students to express themselves fluently and accurately in various situations in written and spoken English, German and Turkish
• To encourage and develop a lifelong appreciation for and the habit of independent reading
• To develop an understanding of the writing process
• To build a strong foundation in reading and writing and study skills using challenging learning materials
• To develop critical-thinking skills, both written and oral
• To develop skills in research
• To develop collaboration, creative thinking, and organizational skills
• To enable students to transfer acquired information and skills into other subject areas
• To encourage the use of technology in the classroom to challenge and stimulate students' interest, imagination, and independence
• To provide a safe and supportive learning community in the classroom which ensures respect for student and teacher
• To enable the students to reflect upon their learning process to be lifelong learners
• To enhance the self-esteem and confidence of our students
• To enhance students' personal and cultural development using varied reading selections
• To nurture a positive attitude and a sense of value and respect towards different cultures (for example by conducting special programs such as Halloween:  Students get dressed in relevant costumes, they have a  party and on that day they learn new vocabulary about Halloween and why it is celebrated)
• In our school the faculty meetings ,the presentations,the ceremonies are carried out in at least two languages.The main communication including the emails  are also carried out  in at least two languages.
• the review of the policy regarding the teachers' first and second languages revised at the beginning of each academic year…

Students at İELEV are considered as individuals who have different learning styles. Teaching methods and techniques are chosen accordingly so that every student’s needs are met.

The culture associated with the target language is also taught inductively. Culture is considered an important aspect of learning the language.

The classroom is devoted primarily to activities that foster acquisition of L2. Learning activities involving practice and drill are also assigned as homework.

Cooperative teaching and learning methods are applied especially in lower and upper secondary.

The language department at İELEV School is engaged to lead cross-curricular projects in school. While making research about World War II, they analyse documents written in

Turkish, German or English. Students are aware of using their language as an instrument to get information from different resources which has a beneficial effect on their motivation towards studying languages.

Review Process: Teachers have different linguistic backgrounds in IELEV so announcements, ceremonies, webpages, emails, documents are delivered in three or two languages depending on the teachers current linguistic profiles and proficiencies. The default language is determined considering the current linguistic demography of the faculty at the beginning of every academic year. On the other hand, all of the students’ first language is Turkish, so they are expected to be proficient in English and German as a second language. Every year, students’ Language B scores are reviewed in accordance with language teaching strategies.

All subject teachers are regarded as language teachers. They give importance and encourage students to use the instrument “language” properly and accurately in order to communicate and express their ideas.

* CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) is emphasized and encouraged throughout the academic year. Besides, there have been professional training sessions as required.

* IELEV High School, science and mathmetics are taught in German and English respectively from Prep grades to 12 th Grades.

 Our objectives are streamlined in development and implementation across grade levels.   

 To ensure that students build up their skills for DP objectives are planned accordingly in each grade level.

LANGUAGE DEPARTMENTS’ CULTURE POLICY

Students who graduate from IELEV will

• have a general knowledge of their own language and culture besides the knowledge of those countries of   which the official or native language is English, and German
• have developed knowledge about and can compare with their own culture the music, art, literature, trends, traditions, religions, national and religious feasts of the countries that are mentioned in the studied works of literature such as the USA, UK, Germany, Austria, etc.
• have researched and discussed the causes and consequences of the occurrences that are mentioned in the studied works of literature (such as the World Wars, the economic crisis in the USA, American civil war, racial discrimination, etc.) so that they could develop a better understanding of the books that they have read.
• have knowledge of and read works from renowned authors (such as John Steinbeck, Roald Dahl, George Orwell, Lois Lowry, Kafka,Sabahattin Ali, Goethe and Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar ).
• have read fiction and  non-fiction including contemporary poetry (some are in thematic connection with the studied novel or play), plays, novels originally written in English, German and Turkish  by authors from a range of cultures (such as 1984, Holes, Der Vorleser, Die Physiker, Corpus Delicti: Ein Prozess, Yenişehir’de bir Öğle Vakti, Aynalar, etc.), Roman and Greek mythology, contemporary stories about a range of cultures written by various authors, fables , legends, and letters about a variety of subjects. The students will graduate having read non-fiction materials such as articles on social and economic issues, essays, biographies and autobiographies and having watched various films and documentaries related to the topics they have studied.
• have read at least two award-winning books (such as Holes, 1984, City of Glass, Hakkari’de bir Mevsim, Yenişehir’de bir Öğle Vakti, Aynalar and Der Vorleser)
• have had the chance to discuss some of the Turkish books they have read with their authors in Turkish language and Literature lessons .                                                   
• know the genres, their characteristics and use them accurately (story, report, article, etc.).
• have read at least two novels each year and various genres of texts throughout their language education.
• have participated in panel discussions and debates conducted in English, German and Turkish.
• have watched TV channels broadcasting as well as films, documentaries, competitions, etc. in English, German and Turkish
• have used technology, mainly i-pad, in language lessons for homework, research etc.
• have assimilated academic honesty rules.

There are some school-based initiatives regarding languages. For example, Math, Physics, Art lessons and some social activity clubs (MUN, Debate, EYP, DI) are taught in English whereas Chemistry, Biology and an activity club (GMUN) are taught in German as the language of instruction and participation.

IELEV is thinking of participating in exchange programs with other countries where the students have an opportunity to practice their foreign languages in an authentic setting, usually in German or English speaking countries.

As teachers are a central point from which policy is turned into practice, it is essential that teachers feel empowered to actively take on this responsibility and be equipped with the proper training. So new staff members are informed about the policy by other members of the department through department meetings and are expected to implement it. If teachers feel in need they are sent to training and knowledge is accessed through seminars and conferences.