LAS is an ideal setting in which to celebrate this week's Mother Language Day! With 75% of our students speaking a language other than English at home, we celebrate linguistic diversity and recognize the vital role that different languages play in shaping students’ education and identity. While we place strong emphasis on English development and proficiency, we also acknowledge that students’ mother languages are powerful tools for learning and for fostering a sense of inclusion within our community. Multilingualism is fundamental to what makes LAS such a vibrant and supportive learning environment, regardless what one’s first language may be.

We actively promote multilingualism through a variety of teaching initiatives and practices. LAS supports non-native English speakers in numerous ways, including through the English Language Acquisition (ELA) program, and additionally, students can pursue the IB school self study option in their home languages. These efforts ensure that multilingualism is supported and never becomes a barrier to academic learning!

LAS further promotes language learning, cultural curiosity, cultural literacy, and global citizenship by weaving an international perspective into the fabric of the LAS experience. Our signature bi-annual cultural trips, the celebration of International Week, and internationally themed cafeteria menus are just some of the initiatives that foster meaningful cross-cultural appreciation. Within our student dormitories, we intentionally pair roommates from different language backgrounds to encourage authentic cultural exchange and continued language development. It is inspiring to see how students learn—and truly thrive—when given the opportunity to build relationships across cultures.

The LAS library also plays a significant role in supporting multilingualism by offering an extensive collection of books in multiple languages. Across our two campus libraries, we have over 400 French books, more than 200 Chinese selections, 50 Polish works, nearly 200 Japanese texts, and almost 1,000 ELA books. We even have multiple works written by LAS students and alumni in both English and other languages. By providing access to diverse reading materials, we help students strengthen their linguistic skills in both their mother tongues and additional languages.

As we celebrate Mother Language Day, we also look forward to upcoming events, including our multicultural storytelling sessions in March. Our Savoy English Language Acquisition students will present stories centered on bilingual identity in the classroom. This experience will help develop students’ speaking skills and confidence while celebrating their cultures and identities. We encourage everyone to participate as we come together to celebrate multiculturalism in our community.

By embracing linguistic diversity, LAS continues to create an environment where all students feel valued and empowered in their language-learning journeys. We love celebrating the many languages that make up our incredible LAS community!