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In what ways is the "Literature and language" course different from a language acquisition course?Language acquisition is the gradual gaining of the linguistic, sociolinguistic and pragmalinguistic language skills; students have other dominant languages and acquire this language progressively. In contrast, the Literature and Language course is a language development course aiming at optimising the communication and literacy skills already gained. Students choosing to study this course will need to be able to speak the language proficiently in order to access its content. The language A Literature and Language course promotes authentic intercultural, digital and critical literacy development.
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Why is this course only available in Japanese and Hindi?We currently offer the Language A Literature and Language course in Hindi and Japanese. The school will open the Language A Literature and Language in any language as long as there is enough interest and fulfils the minimum number of students required to open a class.
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What can parents do to support their son or daughter's learning in a "Literature and Language" other than English? How can parents support mother tongue learning at home?Parents can help by consciously choosing to speak their mother tongue in their daily interactions with their child(ren). They can also encourage contact with relatives and friends who speak the language and expose their son or daughter to a range of media in the language concerned (books, film, music, websites and applications...). They are also encouraged to discuss the works that the students are studying at home, and to read and write about these texts.
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My child is fluent in our home/family language. Can they take an additional "Literature and Language" course (in addition to English) instead of a language acquisition course in Grade 9?Yes, depending on the combination of subjects that make up the student's package. UWCSEA offers a wide range of languages as part of our "Literature and language" programme. Students may take two "Literature and language" courses rather than one "Literature and language" course and one language acquisition course. However, the student's written skills in the family language requested will need to be assessed by the head of the relevant department. If the student demonstrates that they are able to cope in a "Literature and Language" course, they will need to accept any timetable changes linked to the subject switch before joining another course.
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How many languages can UWCSEA students take in Grades 9 and 10?Students can take up to three languages (including English) in Grade 9, depending on the combination of subjects requested.
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If my child studies three languages in Grades 9 and 10, will they be able to continue with all of them in G11 and 12?Yes, we have language learning pathways in Grade 11 and 12 that allow for the continued study of all three languages studied in Grade 9 and 10.
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Can my child take two language acquisition courses, and no "Literature and Language" course?We require that each student takes at least one "Literature and Language" course. This is because, as a diverse and inclusive community, we support the development of each student's first (or home/family/education) language. Please bear in mind that a wide variety of "Literature and Language" courses are offered as part of the SSST programme. Moreover, in Grades 11 and 12, all students must select at least one literature-based language course to qualify for the IB Diploma Programme. For any specific requests regarding SSST languages, please contact the head of department.
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Why is mother tongue learning important?Education in the mother tongue/Language A is a key factor for inclusion and quality learning, empowers all Language A learners to reflect on global issues presented in a variety of texts. It fosters mutual understanding and respect for one another and helps preserve the wealth of literature, cultural and traditional heritage that is embedded in every language.
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What is the difference between bilingualism and biliteracy?The language A Literature and Language course promotes authentic biliteracy development. A person who is bilingual can fluently speak two languages. A person who is biliterate can read and write proficiently in two languages. A person who is biliterate is also considered bilingual, but a person who is bilingual is not necessarily biliterate.
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Who qualifies for an IB bilingual diploma?A bilingual diploma is awarded to candidates who complete and receive a grade 3 or higher in a language other than English in Group 1 of the Diploma Programme
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