The story appears on

Page B5

June 30, 2020

GET this page in PDF

Free for subscribers

View shopping cart

Related News

Home » Supplement » Education

A week into language and identity

So much of our values, beliefs and identity are impacted by the language we speak. For the majority of students at Shanghai Community International School, it all starts with their mother language.

Language is how we express ourselves to those around us and is a fundamental aspect of cultural identity. This year, we challenged our Grade 8 students to take a look at the relationship between language and identity through a weeklong Middle Year Program.

During MYP week, students explored the theme of identity through language. The goal was to reconnect with their mother tongue through art, food and literature. Working in groups based on their mother tongues, students were then tasked with picking out a children’s book of their choosing, written in their native language.

Next, they created an art piece representing their book, followed by cooking a meal inspired by their selected books. It all then came together as they presented their work, meals and read their book to younger students.

Throughout the week, students took turns in various roles. They were bloggers and student leaders one day, and photographers and videographers the next. In turn, MYP students not only became better communicators, but showed creativity, teamwork, critical thinking, patience, persistence, problem-solving capability and empathy.

As international students, remaining connected to your roots in some way is so important. Doing so through language and connecting it to our own identity is one of the most important ways of doing it.




 

Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.

沪公网安备 31010602000204号

Email this to your friend