How many ways can a Prep student say “Hello”?  

From “bonjour” to “namaste,” at Haileybury, Prep students are enthusiastically saying “hello” in multiple languages as they proudly showcase their linguistic knowledge. 

This year the Preps have been delving into languages and discovering the diverse terms for family members across cultures. They have even learnt that whilst some cultures see pets as part of the family, others do not. Some cultures also have distinct words for older and younger siblings. 

Their investigations into other languages, cultures and traditions are part of a new initiative focussed on language and cultural appreciation in the junior years at Haileybury. The aim is to build a strong foundation of linguistic and cultural awareness, equipping students with a solid base so they can excel at more sophisticated language studies as they advance through the School. 

Stanley Wang, Deputy Principal One Haileybury, highlights the importance of this approach. “We want to give them a foundation so they can choose a language of specialist study with the comprehensive background knowledge and cultural appreciation that will set them up for success.”  

Importantly, the new approach actively encourages students to express their authentic selves and share their cultural backgrounds at school. This results in enriching learning experiences where they gain understanding from both the curriculum and their peers. It also fosters inclusiveness and celebrates the cultural diversity that characterises our School and wider community. The philosophy of encouraging curiosity and appreciation of different cultures aligns with the School’s broader educational approach and best practice on how children learn and remember effectively. 

As Grenville Green, Deputy Principal Junior School explains, the focus on linguistic diversity and cultural understanding is all about building a base for future learnings.  “It’s what we do in other disciplines. For example, when we begin teaching science we start with basic transferrable skills, such as observing and measuring the outcomes of simple experiments like discovering how and when ice melts. As students’ skills and understanding progress they are ready to take on more specialist subjects such as physics and biology.”  

The new program was introduced this year in Prep and will be progressively expanded across the year levels. From Year 1, an exciting initiative will pair students with overseas peers, fostering enriched learning and further cultural connections.  

By Years 5–6, students will rotate through specialist language ‘taster subjects.’ In these subjects, students will study the basics of the language, learn about the cultures related to the language as well as explore effective strategies for learning languages. Background Chinese students will have the option to participate in the taster subjects or study a new Background Chinese course that focuses on both traditional and contemporary Chinese cultural knowledge. All these options are designed to prepare students for in depth language studies from Year 7, and the option of studying two languages from Year 8. 

In the meantime, the Preps are delighting in their language discoveries, enthusiastically greeting each other in new ways. This innovative program not only enriches learning, it is also sparking joy in our younger students as they discover new ways to connect with their world and each other.