Explore in different languages

Explore in different languages

Languages are more than tools for communication. They carry histories, identities, values and ways of seeing the world.

In the MYP, exploring sources in different languages can help you understand an issue more fully, recognise different perspectives and connect your learning to local and global contexts.

Why use more than one language?

Using different languages can help you:

• Find sources that are not available in English.

• Understand local and community perspectives.

• Discover how words and ideas can have different meanings.

• Compare how an issue is discussed in different places.

• Value the languages spoken by people in our school community.

• Develop your communication and research skills.

A source in another language may provide knowledge, examples or experiences that English-language sources do not include.

Search in the language of the place

When researching a country, community, culture or local issue, try searching in the language used there.

For example, if you are researching Serbia, you might search in English and Serbian.

Instead of searching only:

Danube River pollution

Try:

Danube River pollution
zagađenje Dunava
zaštita reke Dunav

Ask the librarian, your teacher or a trusted speaker of the language to help you identify useful keywords.

Use multilingual keywords

Make a list of important words from your inquiry question.

For each word, try to find:

• A translation.

• A synonym.

• A related word.

• The name of a place, organisation or community.

• A subject-specific term.

Compare perspectives across languages

When you find sources in different languages, ask:

• What ideas are similar?

• What ideas are different?

• Which examples or experiences are included?

• Which voices are easier to find in one language than another?

• Does a translation change the meaning of an important word?

• How does the language connect to the MYP global context or concept you are studying?

Different languages can reveal different perspectives. They can help you avoid relying on only one story.

Use translation tools thoughtfully

Translation tools can help you understand the main idea of a text, but they can make mistakes.

When using a translation tool:

• Use it to help you understand—not to replace your thinking.

• Check important words with a dictionary or a trusted speaker.

• Compare the translated text with the original when possible.

• Be careful with idioms, humour, cultural references and technical terms.

• Do not copy a machine translation into your work as if you wrote it.

• Record the original source and language.

If you quote a translated source, make it clear that you used a translation.

Credit sources in every language

All sources deserve credit, whatever language they are written in.

Record:

• The author or organisation.

• The original title.

• The language of the source.

• The website, book, article or video details.

• The link or page number.

• The date you accessed it.

When appropriate, you can include an English translation of the title in square brackets.

For example:

Institut za javno zdravlje Srbije. “Kvalitet vazduha u Srbiji” [“Air Quality in Serbia”]. [Website title], [link].

Ask the librarian for help creating the citation.

Connect to MYP learning

Exploring in different languages can support:

• Communication skills: understanding and sharing ideas across languages.

• Research skills: using a wider range of sources and search terms.

• Thinking skills: comparing perspectives and evaluating meaning.

• Global contexts: understanding connections between people, places and cultures.

• International-mindedness: listening with curiosity and respect.

Before you begin

Check that:

• I have identified useful keywords in more than one language.

• I know which language or local perspective could help my inquiry.

• I have checked important translated information.

• I have compared sources thoughtfully.

• I have recorded the original source details.

• I have credited every source I use.

• I can ask for help if I am unsure.

Every language can open a new path for inquiry.