LANGUAGE POLICY ZESPÓŁ SZKÓŁ NR 6 – LICEUM

LANGUAGE POLICY
ZESPÓŁ SZKÓŁ NR 6 – LICEUM OGÓLNOKSZTAŁCĄCE
IM. WŁADYSŁAWA JAGIEŁŁY IN PŁOCK
INTRODUCTION
The following document is an attempt to create the educational foundation of the linguistic
instruction in Zespół Szkół nr 6 – Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Władysława Jagiełły in Płock within
the IB Diploma Programme and is an outcome of collaborative work of the teachers selected as
members of the language policy steering committee in cooperation with all the other stakeholders of
the school. The document states the philosophy of the process of language learning/teaching,
presents the aims of the language education in our school as well as describes the offer of our school
regarding studies in language and literature and foreign language acquisition.
Our school has a long and successful history of learning languages (both native and foreign) and
learning/teaching languages seems to be one of the predominant priorities of education in our
school. Our students regularly achieve various successes in national language competitions. We
promote languages by participation in exchange projects with schools in our sister cities (that is Fort
Wayne, USA; Auxerre, France and Darmstadt, Germany) and organisation of international trips
(mainly to Rome and London). The teachers of all the subjects of the curriculum fully recognise the
importance of possessing a proficient command of English as the language of instruction and one of
the languages of communication in the IB World School community and therefore they systematically
attend English remedial classes organised by the school.
PHILOSOPHY
The community of Zespół Szkół nr 6 – Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Władysława Jagiełły in Płock
recognises the fact that languages constitute the core of all educational tools and a rudimental
means of communication. Therefore, language learning/teaching is a priority of our education.
Learning languages reinforces progress in all the subjects of the curriculum and supports general
development of students in all spheres and disciplines of life.
We understand that language acquisition is a lifelong process and is a crucial element of students’
intellectual and emotional development. The linguistic education is expected to promote
international mindedness, reinforce the learner profile attributes and allow our students to become
successful and efficient members of the IB World schools community.
All teachers must recognise and cater for students’ linguistic needs. As the language of
instruction is not students and teachers’ native language, teachers’ role must be to develop
their own linguistic competence to become role models for their students.
AIMS
Through linguistic education in our school, we aim to:
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develop our students’ interest in culture (especially literature) of their native country
as well as other countries whose languages are or are not taught in our school,
reinforce students’ oral and written communication skills through different channels,
promote international mindedness, openness and tolerance,
encourage students to improve their language skills in order to comprehend other
people and their complex personalities and various cultures and different
perspectives,
educate competent, creative, independent and proficient language users able to
cope with various linguistic tasks,
awaken students’ awareness of the significance of linguistic competence for all the
subjects of the curriculum.
LANGUAGE OFFER IN ZESPÓŁ SZKÓŁ NR 6 – LICEUM OGÓLNOKSZTAŁCĄCE
WŁADYSŁAWA JAGIEŁŁY IN PŁOCK
IM.
1. LANGUAGE A: POLISH
Polish is presently the mother tongue of all the students of Zespół Szkół nr 6 – Liceum
Ogólnokształcące im. Władysława Jagiełły in Płock, so it has been selected as Language A.
The main purpose of the language education in this sphere will not only be the linguistic
development of students, but first and foremost critical reflection of students on their reading in a
given cultural context. Students are expected to acquire the appreciation of culture and literature
and improve their ability to take advantage of literary texts to build their own outlooks upon the
world and life and know how to express them.
Students can choose the Standard Level or the Higher Level of Language A. In the case of non-native
speakers of Polish at school, Zespół Szkół nr 6 – Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Władysława Jagiełły in
Płock commits to support such students individually on their way to acquire a proficient command of
Polish. Similarly, such students will be supported in their self-taught native language if it is different
from the languages offered by our school.
2. LANGUAGE B: ENGLISH
English becomes the language of instruction, therefore all lessons in all the offered subjects (with the
exception of Polish (Language A) and foreign languages) will be conducted entirely in English. The
school offers the Higher Level and the Standard Level of English. However, we presume that at the
beginning of their education in our school, IB DP students represent the command of proficiency of
English at the B2 level in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and that is
why the majority of students are expected to choose the Higher Level.
The main objective of the English course is to develop students’ linguistic capabilities and not only
prepare them for the final exam in Language B, but allow them to master the language as a
significant tool to gain knowledge and abilities in all the subjects of the curriculum.
3. LANGUAGE B ab initio: FRENCH, GERMAN, ITALIAN
IB DP students are given an opportunity to choose one of three ab initio languages currently available
in Zespół Szkół nr 6 – Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Władysława Jagiełły in Płock, namely: French,
German and English. In the case of students whose command of French, German or Italian is
sufficient enough to start their IB DP education at the Standard or Higher Level, the school will
consider the extension of the educational offer.
The main objective of the ab initio language learning/teaching is to give students a chance to learn
another foreign language different from English. It is generally known that the intense competition in
the contemporary world of educational and professional markets is easily observable and knowledge
of additional foreign language is a great asset for every student.
All the foreign language teachers in Zespół Szkół nr 6 – Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Władysława
Jagiełły in Płock aim to develop their students’ interactive, receptive and productive skills and in the
case of students choosing the Higher Level, familiarise them with selected literary texts in the target
language. The teachers will make an effort to provide their students with a balanced and integrated
reinforcement of students’ speaking, listening, writing and reading abilities. The IB DP language
teachers are determined to put great emphasis on communication skills of their students and
allowing them to successfully function on the educational and professional markets in the future.
LANGUAGE POLICY REVIEW AND EVALUATION
The language policy is a subject of further consultation and evaluation.