Whilst the main language of instruction at SIS is English, we are committed to supporting and developing multilingualism as a fundamental part of our school’s mission to increase intercultural understanding and global mindedness. We strive to create a challenging and motivating multilingual environment, offering meaningful opportunities to study a range of languages within the IB programmes. Through language, our students acquire the ability to think and to learn, to develop social skills and values and to acquire knowledge.

As part of the SIS commitment to personalised learning and empowering students to be the best that they can be, the English Language Development (ELD) programme supports the learning of students who do not have English as a first language, from their tentative first days at SIS to their preparation for higher education. The aim of the ELD Department is to focus on improving the English skill sets of those students who study within it, whilst always maintaining and celebrating their own cultural diversity.

This philosophy is consistent and school-wide and helps us maintain a rigorous and relevant pathway that transitions seamlessly between the PYP, MYP and DP programmes of study.

The ELD programme is designed to further the intellectual, social, and career development of our students by helping them to:

• strengthen their ability to communicate fluently in English at school and in the wider community
• acquire the English needed to develop their potential and make academic progress within the school and beyond
• develop skills (e.g., numeracy, media awareness, scientific- understanding, group participation)
• experience and affirm a sense of self-worth rooted in pride in their heritage
• develop an understanding of the similarities and differences between their home culture and the value system upon which our school is based.