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Friday 11.40-12.40
Tiffany Crook, Anja Cwidak, Lauren Snella
Lesson/unit planning in international schools, where students come from diverse linguistic backgrounds, plays a vital role in fostering a sense of belonging. By integrating multilingual approaches, educators acknowledge and value each child’s cultural and linguistic identity, creating an inclusive environment. This not only enhances engagement but also deepens the learning experience, as students feel more connected and supported. Emphasising multilingualism in our schools ensures that all learners are respected, helping them build confidence while strengthening the connections between their individual backgrounds and the broader classroom and school community.
What are we doing in the classroom that works?
This practical session will be focussed on sharing and discussion of innovative, multilingual and linguistic strategies that promote learning success and the development of a whole linguistic repertoire for all of our diverse students.
The proposed workshop seeks to share strategies and experiences revolving around the development and implementation of a unit planner with embedded functional language, crafted considering the multilingual composition of class groups and their distinct language needs.
AIM/Objectives
A. To facilitate a dialogue for educators to exchange ideas, challenges, and solutions pertaining to implementing functional language learning in multilingual contexts.
B. To explore and understand the dynamics of multilingual classroom settings and their impact on curriculum planning and delivery.
C. To share experiences and strategies in developing a unit planner that focuses on integrating the functional language that is required for success in the summative assessment while also respecting and utilising the diverse linguistic backgrounds of students.
Key Takeaways
A. Proven strategies and real-world experiences of aligning unit planning with multilingual approaches.
B. A hands-on experience of crafting a rudimentary unit planner, factoring in the use of functional language components.
C. A platform to connect, collaborate, and continue learning beyond the workshop.
Workshop Outline
A brief walkthrough of unit planning through a multilingual lens with emphasis on the functional use of language required for student success.
Experience Sharing
Presenting our journey of developing and implementing a unit planner at the Inter-Community School of Zurich, elucidating the alignment with multilingual student needs.
Interactive Session
Engaging participants in a dynamic session where they will collaboratively work on a mock unit, considering language needs, facilitated by workshop leaders.
Discussion and Q&A
insights from the interactive session
pose questions
discuss potential challenges/roadblocks
considerations for curricular alignment
Closing:
Summarising key points and providing participants with practical resources and contact information for further collaboration and learning.
SPEAKERS
Tiffany Crook (ICSZ) Lead Teacher for Intensive English Programme
Tiffany is an experienced international educator specialising in multilingualism. With extensive expertise in English as an Additional Language (EAL) instruction, she has collaborated with teachers across subjects to ensure students from diverse linguistic backgrounds are supported in their learning. Tiffany’s work emphasises building a sense of belonging by integrating multilingual strategies into curricula, allowing students to connect their identities with their learning experiences. As a presenter at the ECIS Multilingual Learning in International Education (MLIE) conference and a participant in action research with the Multilingual Learning Research Center (MLRC), Tiffany is deeply committed to creating inclusive, student-centred environments that empower learners to thrive.
Anja Cwidak (ICSZ) Linguistic Research and Development Specialist
Anja, an accomplished educator, possesses a wealth of experience teaching German in a variety of global contexts. With a deep commitment to advocating for multilingual learners in international education, she firmly believes that linguistic inclusion serves as a catalyst for fostering a sense of belonging in educational settings. Anja's pedagogical approach is informed by a nuanced understanding of the central role language plays in shaping cultural identities. Anja is a strong advocate for empowering teachers to enable multilingual learners to fully access and engage with the curriculum.
Lauren Snella (ICSZ) MYP Science Teacher
Lauren has 15 years of experience teaching and leading in secondary science education across international and public schools. She is a dedicated advocate for the critical role of academic writing in student success. Lauren collaborates closely with English language acquisition teachers to identify and teach the language skills necessary for students to demonstrate their deep understanding of scientific concepts. Her passion lies in fostering a rigorous and inclusive learning environment where every student can excel.