At Shanghai Community International School (SCIS), language acquisition is a vital component of our program. We foster a multilingual environment that supports the development of various languages, enhancing students' proficiency and intercultural understanding. Our language initiatives are designed to cultivate global-mindedness and enrich our diverse community, preparing students to thrive in a connected world.
Hear more about how we engage our students to efficiently learn English from Richard Benade, English Acquisition Language Teacher at SCIS Hongqiao.
Richard Benade has spoken with some of our language learners about their early experiences acquiring English.
How did you feel when you first began learning in an English environment?
"I felt anxious and scared. But after some time, I got a little more relaxed because the teachers make us feel comfortable. There were also students in my grade who came and were like, ‘Hey, how are you?’ and even though I didn’t understand, they still tried to communicate with me." - Beliz
"When I lived in Korea, I learned English through Korean, so everything was easier. But when I entered an English environment, it was really hard in all my subject classes. At first, it felt like there was a big wall in front of me that I couldn’t get over." - Hangyel
Students require safe learning spaces for language acquisition, known as the affective filter. The less comfortable a learner feels, the higher their affective filter, making them afraid to make mistakes and unlikely to process new language skills.
One way that SCIS fosters safe learning spaces is by celebrating the multilingual and multicultural nature of our community. We recognize home languages as an asset and encourage our learners to use their multilingual skills.
How do you feel about how we learn English at SCIS?
"At my old school, when we learned English, we only learned basic terms. But when we learn in classes like I&S, it makes me realize that ‘wow’ there's a lot more words than just these basic terms." - Beliz
Learning and acquiring a language are very different things. We learn a language by memorizing rules, patterns, and vocabulary, but we acquire a language when we immerse ourselves in authentic experiences and use language to accomplish meaningful tasks. We support language acquisition by integrating English into diverse contexts across subjects like Math, PHE, I&S, Design, and Science. You can also support your child at home by encouraging the authentic use of English.
What helped you when you first began learning English?
"My family encouraged me. Also videos with English subtitles. The purpose of watching videos should not be to learn English. We should watch videos that interest us so that we have fun. During the entertainment, we can learn English." - Hangyel
"Reading helped me, but it should be a topic or genre you’re interested in. You shouldn’t get bored while reading. You should feel interested and be thinking ‘Oh what’s going to happen next?'" - Beliz
"I love reading Chinese books, and when I started learning English, my mom bought me lots of English books. She said that I should also read English books every day." - Jasmine
Children are more likely to acquire language if they enjoy the content. In short, our learners don’t need to read and watch strictly academic material to practice their English. Here are some suggestions for selecting things to read and watch.
It should be:
• Easy enough to effortlessly comprehend
• Self-selected
• Chosen for interest and enjoyment
SCIS. Communicating Across Languages and Cultures.
