Language Policy

Introduction

 

According to the decree of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Abishevich Nazarbayev, a trilingual policy is being introduced in the educational sphere of Kazakhstan (Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 2011). Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools, which are the flagship in the educational sphere of the Republic of Kazakhstan, also apply  a trilingual education model.

Nazarbayev Intellectual School in Nur-Sultan, which implements the International Baccalaureate programs (hereinafter - School), implements training in Kazakh, Russian and English languages. The Kazakh language is the state language, mastering which is the duty of every member of the school community, Russian is the language of interethnic communication, English is important for integration into the world community.

At Nazarbayev Intellectual School in Nur-Sultan, language policy is an integral part of the educational process.

All members of the school community know that Kazakh, Russian and English languages play an important role in the prosperity of Kazakhstan and therefore fluency in these languages is key to success.

 

1. 1. General Provisions

 

1. 1. This Language Policy is used by students, teachers and other members of the school community of the Nazarbayev Intellectual School in Nur-Sultan.
2. 2. The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance on the implementation and development of the trilingual learning model and to support the native languages of learners.
3. 3. The Language Policy is reviewed annually.
4. The following concepts are used in this Policy:

1) Trilingual educational model of teaching - a teaching model in which subjects are taught in Kazakh, Russian and English;

2) Language Policy - the School's policy that regulates issues related to the language aspect of teaching and learning;

3) Middle Years Programme - an educational program of the International Baccalaureate, aimed at teaching 13-17 years old students;

4) Diploma Programme - an educational program of the International Baccalaureate, aimed at teaching  18-20 years old students;

5) Language of instruction - the language in which the subject is taught;

6) Language phases - stages of teaching languages;

7) Native language is one of the main signs of a person's national (ethnic) affiliation;

8) First language - a language mastered by a person from childhood;

9) Second language - the language mastered by a person after the native or the first language;

10) Levels of achievement - a descriptor of the level that meets the criterion that best matches the achievement in the student's work;

11) Integration - the process of borrowing, shifting and crossing characteristics that were previously characteristic of only one specific language;

12) Language resources - sources of knowledge that help to improve the language level through live communication;

13) IELTS certificate - a certificate that proves a certain level of knowledge of the English language;

14) APTIS certificate - a similar IELTS certificate that proves a certain level of English;

15) KazTest Certificate - a certificate that proves  a certain level of knowledge of the Kazakh language;

5. All languages taught in MYP and DP are divided into two groups:

1 group – Language and Literature (Kazakh Language and Literature, Kazakh Literature, Russian Language and Literature, English Language and Literature)

2 group – Language acquisition (Kazakh language, Russian language, English language).

1. 2.       

2. Teaching subjects and teaching languages in Middle Years Programme

 

6. In MYP, students are assigned according to the first languages. The school has formed classes with Kazakh and Russian languages of instruction.

7. The subject "Kogamdyk Gylymdar negizderi", which is an integration of "History of Kazakhstan" and "Geography of Kazakhstan", is taught in all 7-8 grades in Kazakh language.

8. The subjects "History of Kazakhstan", "Geography" are compulsory for study and are taught only in the Kazakh language in all 9-10 grades.

9. The subject "Physical training lesson " is taught only in Kazakh language in all grades 7-12.

10. Students in grades 7-9 studying in Kazakh classes study the subject "Kazakh language and literature", while students in classes with Russian language of instruction study the subject "Russian language and literature". These subjects belong to the first group "Language and Literature".

11. Learning second languages takes place according to the language phases in accordance with Appendix 1 to this Policy.

12. Teaching languages in phases takes place in groups of students with the same learning phase.

13. At the end of each academic year, the results of the students are analyzed and the teachers give recommendations for the further advancement of the student in phases. Detailed information on phases by language and class is presented in Appendix 2 to this Policy.

14. In the absence of an appropriate phase in the classroom, the student is transferred to another class.

15. If a student shows high ability in a class with a recommended phase, the advancement of such  student to a higher phase  occurs after the first semester if there is a higher phase in the classroom.

16. If the student is not advised to advance further in the phase at the end of the school year, then if there is a corresponding phase in the next year of study, the student remains in the previous phase. In the absence of such a phase, the student is advised to proceed to the next phase with the obligatory attendance of additional classes.

17. Students in the 10th grade who have reached phase 6 in the subject "English" are recommended to study the subject "English language and literature."

18. In the 10th grade of MYP, the subject "Russian language" is not taught. All students after the end of the 9th grade are transferred to the subject "Russian language and literature".

19. Subjects "Science" and "Social Studies" are taught in the language of instruction and in English starting from the 7th grade. Thus, each year of study, the number of subjects taught in English increases (see Appendix 3 to this Policy). Gradual Immersion in English provides quality preparation for students to study all subjects in English in DP.

 

3. Teaching subjects and teaching languages in Diploma Programme

 

20. All subjects taught in DP, with the exception of the subjects "Russian language and literature", "Russian language", "Kazakh literature", "Kazakh language", "Modern history of Kazakhstan", "History of Kazakhstan" are taught in English.

21. The subjects "Initial military training" and "Physical education" in grades 11-12 are taught in Kazakh.

22. In accordance with the need students choose the subjects like "Russian language and literature", "Russian language", "Kazakh literature", "Kazakh language", "English language and literature", "English language".

23. All subjects in DP are presented at the advanced and standard levels, with the exception of the subject "English". The study of this subject is possible only at a advanced level. The subjects "Kazakh literature", "English language and literature" "Modern history of Kazakhstan" are studied only at the standard level.

24. DP students in the first year of study can choose to study two languages from group 1, or one language from group 1 and one language from group 2. The following selection combinations are possible:

- Kazakh literature and English language and literature (group 1);

- Russian language and literature and English language and literature (1 group);

- Kazakh literature and English (group 1 and group 2);

- Russian language and literature and English language (group 1 and group 2);

25. When choosing any combination, without exception, students should also study Kazakh or Russian as a third language).

26. If there are students whose native or first languages are not Kazakh, Russian or English, the School offers the possibility of online language teaching on a paid basis at the expense of legal representatives through the Pamoja platform.

27. For the subjects chosen for passing the external assessment to obtain the certificate of the Unified National Testing, preparation is conducted in the Kazakh and Russian languages, regardless of which language the students studied this subject in MYP.

 

4. The process of assigning students according to language phases

 

28. The division into phases of students in grades 8-10 is carried out at the end of the previous academic year in order to form groups and classes for the next academic year. The basis for the formation is the recommendations of the teachers, which are then transferred to the coordinator of MYP and the Vice-Principal for Academic Affairs. The Vice-Principal for Academic Affairs, together with the coordinator of MYP, form lists by grade and group.

29. Newly enrolled students of the 7th grade in the 1st semester study according to the 2nd phase only.

30. The division into phases of newly enrolled 7th grade students occurs at the end of the first semester. It is based on teacher recommendations and student learning outcomes in the first semester.

31. For the transition from phase 5, the group "Language and Literature", students need to complete a creative task.

32. Information regarding changes in achievement levels and phases is communicated to students and parents after the end of the school year but no later than June 15 of the current year.

 

5. Support for the native and first languages of students

 

33. The school strives to create favorable conditions for the development of the native languages of students, which differ from Kazakh, Russian and English. The school implements the "Second Language" project, within which students can learn foreign languages. This project makes it possible to attract additional teachers to teach students.

34. International Teachers of the School are language resources, and if needed, they can also teach languages outside the classroom.

35. The list of students who need to learn their mother tongue is determined at the beginning of each academic year through a survey in the classroom. The tutors are responsible for conducting the survey.

36. After determining the list of applicants, the Vice-Principal for Academic Affairs may consider several ways to provide opportunities for learning the mother tongue:

- Providing access to the Pamoja online platform;

- Involvement of local or international teachers - native speakers;

- Inviting a teacher to the school (in case one or another language was provided for in the school's payment system).

37. The Vice-Principal for Academic Affairs is responsible for coordinating the work of the language clubs.

 

6. Role of the school community in implementation trilingual policy

 

38. All members of the school community, including school administrators, teachers and students, parents and support staff, should contribute to the implementation of the Language Policy.

39. All teachers are teachers of languages, the process of teaching students must always be accompanied by competent speech and writing as students so teachers.

40. Teachers, as the certificates expire, must provide the school with indicators of language competencies: the level of knowledge in English is determined through APTIS or IELTS certificates, to determine language competencies in the Kazakh language, teachers provide a KazTest certificate.

41. Learning languages at an early stage is possible with the organization of clubs/circles at the initiative of DP students. Students of grades 11-12 can organize language clubs as part of the “Creativity, Action and Community Service” component.

42. At all meetings and assemblies organized at the School, the organizers must provide information in Kazakh, Russian and English.

43. Emails intended for a wide audience should be written in Kazakh, Russian and English.

44. Orders, service letters and other documents must be executed in Kazakh and Russian languages.

45. Answers to parental inquiries, letter-responses to inquiries are issued in Kazakh or in the language of inquiry.

 

 

  

Appendix 1

 

Language phases in MYP

 

	Emergent Phase 1–2	Capable Phase 3–4	Proficient Phase 5–6
	In order to reach the aims of language acquisition, students should be able to:	In order to reach the aims of language acquisition, students should be able to:	In order to reach the aims of language acquisition, students should be able to:
Objective A: Listening
i	identify explicit and implicit information (facts, opinions, messages supporting details) in a wide variety of simple authentic texts	identify explicit and implicit information (facts, opinions, messages, supporting details) in a wide variety of simple and some complex authentic texts	identify explicit and implicit information (facts, opinions, messages, supporting details) in a wide variety of complex authentic texts
ii	analyse conventions in a wide variety of simple authentic texts	analyse conventions in a wide variety of simple and some complex authentic texts	analyse conventions in a wide variety of complex authentic texts
iii	analyse connections in a wide variety of simple authentic texts	analyse connections in a wide variety of simple and some complex authentic texts	analyse connections in a wide variety of complex authentic texts
Objective B: Reading
i	identify explicit and implicit information (facts, opinions, messages, supporting details) in a wide variety of simple authentic texts	identify explicit and implicit information (facts, opinions, messages, supporting details) in a wide variety of simple and some complex authentic texts	identify explicit and implicit information (facts, opinions, messages, supporting details) in a wide variety of complex authentic texts
ii	analyse conventions in a wide variety of simple authentic texts.	analyse conventions in a wide variety of simple and some complex authentic texts	analyse conventions in a wide variety of complex authentic texts
iii	analyse connections in a wide variety of simple authentic texts	analyse connections in a wide variety of simple and some complex authentic texts	analyse connections in a wide variety of complex authentic texts
Objective C: Speaking
i	use a wide range of vocabulary	use a wide range of vocabulary	use a wide range of vocabulary
ii	use a wide range of grammatical structures generally accurately	use a wide range of grammatical structures generally accurately	use a wide range of grammatical structures generally accurately
iii	use clear pronunciation and intonation in a comprehensible manner	use clear pronunciation and intonation in a comprehensible manner	use clear pronunciation and intonation in a comprehensible manner
iv	communicate almost all the required information clearly and effectively	communicate all the required information clearly and effectively	communicate all the required information clearly and effectively
Objective D: Writing
i	use a wide range of vocabulary	use a wide range of vocabulary	use a wide range of vocabulary
ii	use a wide range of grammatical structures generally accurately	use a wide range of grammatical structures generally accurately	use a wide range of grammatical structures generally accurately
iii	organize information effectively and coherently in an appropriate format using a wide range of simple cohesive devices	organize information effectively and coherently in an appropriate format using a wide range of simple and complex cohesive devices	organize information effectively and coherently in an appropriate format using a wide range of complex cohesive devices
iv	communicate all the required information with a clear sense of audience and purpose to suit the context	communicate all the required information with a clear sense of audience and purpose to suit the context	communicate all the required information with a clear sense of audience and purpose to suit the context

 

 

 

Appendix 2

 

Shifting in phases in the subjects "Kazakh language", "Russian language" and "English language" in MYP

 

Kazakh language
7 grade	2 phase and 3 phase
8 grade	3 phase and 4 phase
9 grade	4 phase and 5 phase
10 grade	5 phase and  6 phase
Russian language
7 grade	3 phase and 4 phase
8 grade	4 phase and  5 phase
9 grade	5 phase and  6 phase
10 grade	Language and literature
English language
7 grade	2 phase and  3 phase
8 grade	2 phase, 3 phase  and 4 phase
9 grade	4 phase and 5 phase
10 grade	6 phase English language and literature

 

 

 

 

Appendix 3

 

Language of instruction

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bibliography

 

 

1. Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan. (2011). On the State Program for the Development and Functioning of Languages in the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2011-2020. Taken from http://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/U1100000110

2. New Language Acquisition Guide, February 2020, p. 13.