How to become a Language Friendly School?
The Language Friendly School is a label and a network of schools.
The Language Friendly School does not provide a blueprint of what schools must do. Rather, it starts with what schools need and what they can realistically accomplish.
At the very minimum, schools commit not to punish children speaking their mother tongue. For some schools this is already a significant step. By connecting with other Language Friendly Schools they can share good practices and teachers can be inspired to take a next step forward.
Join
Assessment of the situation
The school assesses together with their entire entire team what they are already doing and explores the ambitions of becoming (more) language friendly. Have a look at the Roadmap and the tips for making a plan below.
Registration
By filling out the registration form, your school starts the formal onboarding process. The team at the Language Friendly School reviews the information provided by you. Register here
Involving School Leadership
After the review, the Language Friendly School Team plans a meeting with the principal, headmaster or school leader.
Commitment
The school commits in writing to the basic requirements (see Roadmap). There is a fee involved.
Your school is a Language Friendly School!
The school receives a certificate, can use the label and has access to the online platform. The plans of the school are discussed in an intake meeting with the coordinator.
Language Friendly School Plan
During two years, the school develops a Language Friendly School Plan, implements and evaluates it. Support and professional development is offered through one-on-one meetings. Exchange with other Language Friendly Schools and experts is facilitated. Schools also receive a 5% reduction in the Language Friendly Academy.
Roadmap
The Roadmap to welcoming all languages
Our Roadmap shows what Language Friendly Schools commit to. The first section shows the basic requirements of becoming a Language Friendly School. The Roadmap also provides ideas for activities as a school and in the classroom. These are all optional.
In the onboarding process of becoming a Language Friendly School, this Roadmap can prove to be helpful. The Roadmap is reviewed by the school's entire team. Parents and children may be involved here. The school determines if the first requirements are met, which activities of the school level or classroom level the school is already doing, and which activities the school plans on doing the next year.
Join
All schools are welcome to join. The network is open for primary and secondary schools; international, private, public and many more.
Benefits for Schools
- Language Friendly Schools have access to an online platform to share ideas with other schools on multilingual teaching strategies, with online videos and webinars and the latest research findings.
- Teachers and staff have the opportunity to meet each other during Language Friendly School Conferences; informal gatherings to exchange ideas, gather inspiration and make new friends from around the world.