TOKYO WEST INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Language PolicynIntroduction

Language plays an important part in supporting the school‘s mission statement. The school focuseson preparing world citizens who are responsible and confident communicators imbued with a senseof service to others. Within the school community, many languages exist side by side; thus,
stakeholders’ appreciation of the cultures associated with them is enhanced.
Tokyo West International School (TWIS) offers an authentic language education for real life, which
gives emphasis on children‘s achievement and academic excellence. By learning language, as wellas learning about and through language, we nurture an appreciation of language. Through this,extensive and achievable support is given according to students’ needs.

nLanguage Profile

Approximately 60% of the student population speaks Japanese, which happens to be the firstlanguage among TWIS students. Not all parents can speak in English, but are very proficient andfluent in their respective mother tongues. The remaining 40% speak Korean, Hindu, Chinese, andEnglish etc. as their first language. Given this language profile, more than half of our students are
English Language Learners (ELL). Most often, if not all the time, students communicate with eachother in Japanese. All our teaching staff speak English and the majority is fluent in at least one otherlanguage.

nPrinciples of Language Learning

Informed by practices espoused in the document “Learning in a Language other than mothertongue in IB programmes”. The school affirms the conditions of learning language through thefollowing:
1.

Activating prior knowledge and building background knowledge - the school believes andaffirms that new learning and understanding is constructed on previous experiences andconceptual understandings. To help students acquire and become proficient in theirfirst/native and mother tongue languages, teachers should activate the learner's priorunderstanding through the use of their prior understanding to differentiate tasks and activities
to build knowledge, support planning for future differentiation, and consider time andstrategies for activating and building background knowledge.

2.

Scaffold meaning - teachers are expected to provide students with strategies to create newmeaning and help them understand texts. Visual aids, graphic organizers, demonstrations are
all scaffolds to help students understand and comprehend language. At the same time,scaffolding should also foster students’ increasing independence in taking responsibilities fordeveloping strategies for their own learning.
Tokyo West International School
185Umetsubo-machi, Hachioji-city, Tokyo 192-0013 TEL:042-691-1441/FAX:042-691-1442
Website:www.tokyowest.jp

TOKYO WEST INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
3.

Extend language - as students progress through their grades, they are required to read andwrite increasingly sophisticated texts in the context of their learning. Teachers can extend
language learning and acquisition by combining high expectations with opportunities forlearner-centered practice and interaction with rich materials and experiences. Opportunities
for reading, practicing writing in different genres are equally important and must be fullysupported.

4.

Affirm identity - the school affirms that language is integral to identity, therefore the school
welcomes and embraces diversity of cultures and perspectives, valuing the diversity ofcultures and perspectives to enhance learning, establishing a mother tongue program for all
learners, and liaising with parents to establish understanding of how best to collaborate andachieve shared goals.

Language Program

nPrimary Years Programme

TWIS uses differentiation within each language class. While the majority of the subjects are taught
in English, the Programme of Inquiry is in English.
From Kindergarten to Elementary, English Language and Literacy classes are conducted daily.
Japanese language, which is the most common mother tongue as well as the host country language,is explicitly taught from Preschool. In addition, TWIS has Japanese classes for non-native speakers.

nOfficial School Documents

All key official documents in school are published in English. The official school documents are asfollows:
1. School Handbook
2. School Policies
3. Progress Report Cards
4. Medical Records of Students (Health records, medication cards)
5. Emergency Cards
6. School Calendar of Activities
7. Letter to Parents (school notices, updates and correspondence)
8. Programme of Inquiry
9. Promotional Invitations

nPortfolio
1. Pre – school Department – The entire portfolio is written in English.
2. Kindergarten Department – The entire portfolio is written in English.
3. Elementary Department – The entire portfolio is written in English.

Tokyo West International School
185Umetsubo-machi, Hachioji-city, Tokyo 192-0013 TEL:042-691-1441/FAX:042-691-1442
Website:www.tokyowest.jp

TOKYO WEST INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
nMother Tongue Support

TWIS believes that mother tongue support is essential to further acquire knowledge and academic
development. Since 60% of our students are Japanese, extensive lessons are given by the Japaneseteachers in their class. Likewise, other mother tongue languages may be used at the teacher’s
discretion to support learning, according to the age, maturity and confidence of the individual student.

nLanguage Level Assessment

The role of assessment is integral in determining the effectiveness of our language programmes andthe language proficiency level of our students as they progress in both Japanese and English
language learning continuum. Results from standardized assessments and from formative andsummative assessments in class are used for referencing and planning the approaches to teaching
and learning in addressing the language needs of all students.

nInternational School Assessment - ISAInternational School Assessment (ISA) is developed by the Australian Council for Educational
Research (ACER). ISA is designed especially for Grades 3 to 10 students in international schools.
The results of the assessment provide information about student performance in relation to levels ofproficiency in the following key areas: mathematical and reading literacy, and writing.
Assessment results are discussed with parents. Further information is used and analyzed tostrengthen the mathematics and language arts programs of the school.

nEIKEN**Nihon Eigo Kentei Kyokai, or the Eiken Foundation of Japan (formerly the Society for Testing
English Proficiency, Inc.), is a public-interest incorporated foundation established in 1963 and basedin Tokyo, Japan. Eiken produces and administers English-proficiency tests with the backing of theJapanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) and incooperation with Japanese prefectural and local boards of education, public and private schools,and other leading testing bodies.
TWIS students from Grade 1 to Grade 9 are highly encouraged to take the EIKEN test every year.
TWIS Teachers can be consulted about the EIKEN level of language proficiency test that students
could take.
Recommended Step Eiken Level

Grade Level

Eiken Level 5 or Eiken Level 4

Grade 1 and Grade 2

Eiken Level 4 or Eiken Level 3

Grade 3Eiken Level , Pre-2

Grade 4 and Grade 5Tokyo West International School
185Umetsubo-machi, Hachioji-city, Tokyo 192-0013 TEL:042-691-1441/FAX:042-691-1442
Website:www.tokyowest.jp

TOKYO WEST INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Eiken Level 2, Pre-1

Grade 6 , Grade 7 and Grade 8

Eiken Level 1

Grade 9EIKEN test level written above is the level that the school suggests students take in each respective
Grade level. The final decision of the specific EIKEN test level the students would take is at thediscretion of their parents.

nKANKENThe KANKEN (The Japan Kanji Aptitude Test) is one of the most widely used Chinese characters
testing programs in Japan. It is administered by the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation. It is acertificate that can be used as a reading and writing skill for Kanji.
TWIS started KANKEN in 2019. TWIS Grades 1 to 9 students take the KANKEN in July and Octoberof the school year. Test results are given to the students within one month from the test. Due to theKANKEN, TWIS students practice Kanji using past exams in Japanese Class.
The Japanese Department will leverage the result of the test and support the students' Kanji study.
Elementary Department Campus and Classroom Language Practices
The language of instruction for the Programme of Inquiry is in English. Except for Japanese Literacy,
all single subjects are taught in English. The department strongly encourages students to speak in
English at all times. All elementary students are encouraged to use the English language in their
daily conversation.

nReview of Language Policy

A committee will be formed to review the language policy. The committee will consist of theHeadmistress, PYP Coordinator, teachers and staff. The committee will review the current policy,
make revision to current policy if needed and create a plan to communicate the policy to thestakeholders. The language policy will be reviewed every two years.

Tokyo West International School
185Umetsubo-machi, Hachioji-city, Tokyo 192-0013 TEL:042-691-1441/FAX:042-691-1442
Website:www.tokyowest.jp

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Tokyo West International School
185Umetsubo-machi, Hachioji-city, Tokyo 192-0013 TEL:042-691-1441/FAX:042-691-1442
Website:www.tokyowest.jp

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Tokyo West International School
185Umetsubo-machi, Hachioji-city, Tokyo 192-0013 TEL:042-691-1441/FAX:042-691-1442
Website:www.tokyowest.jp

TOKYO WEST INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
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Tokyo West International School
185Umetsubo-machi, Hachioji-city, Tokyo 192-0013 TEL:042-691-1441/FAX:042-691-1442
Website:www.tokyowest.jp