Language Policy

Philosophy

We share and practice the mission of Minneapolis Public Schools Department of World Languages to prepare “...all students to be multilingual, culturally competent, respectful and responsible citizens of an interconnected, more peaceful world.” Southwest High School recognizes that language is central to learning and believes all teachers are teachers of language.

Language of Instruction

The language of instruction at Southwest High School is English, with the exception of our Language Acquisition classes. All students are required by state and district standards to successfully complete four years of English Language and Literature instruction. 

The department of Language Acquisition supports the International Baccalaureate ideal of Global Citizenship. Our Language Acquisition classes encourage students to learn about other cultures and develop a mindset that values multilingualism and interdisciplinary learning. Southwest offers four Language Acquisition options, and these courses meet every day, all year long. French, Japanese and Spanish classes are offered as MYP and DP classes, each with six different levels of study, and American Sign Language is offered as an MYP class, with four levels of study. 

Students are encouraged to study the same language throughout the Middle Years Programme (MYP) in order to continue their study of language at the Standard or High Level in the IB Diploma Programme (DP). Many students arrive at Southwest with two or more years of Language Acquisition study, including students from Spanish and French Immersion schools. Students are generally encouraged to continue with the language they began learning in their middle school program. The goal of Language Acquisition classes, as with English Language and Literature instruction, is for all students to achieve proficiency in speaking, listening, reading and writing.

Mother Tongue

Students who speak a home language other than English at home are highly encouraged to continue the development of their mother tongue through participation in upper level language classes if offered, extracurricular cultural clubs, working with bilingual staff, as well as through the opportunity to earn a proficiency certificate. Bilingual students in the State of Minnesota can earn a “language proficiency certificate” or a “bilingual seal” on their high school diploma by demonstrating certain levels on standardized proficiency tests of their mother tongues. Local universities will then award these students college credit.

English Language Learners (ELL)

The ELL program provides students with support to achieve academic English proficiency commensurate with their English speaking peers. All ELL students participate in the MYP, with the longer range goal of enrolling in the DP. Subject area teachers recognize the importance of building key vocabulary, skills, and concepts necessary for successful completion of MYP and DP courses. Teachers receive ongoing professional development to differentiate and provide scaffolds to promote ELL student success in all content area courses.

ELL students receive language support and instruction in a variety of configurations. Students are placed in direct English Language Development (ELD) instruction and general education classes based on their WIDA level and number of years in the United States. Students with WIDA levels 1-4 receive direct ELD instruction in academic English. Students with WIDA levels over 4 but lower than 5.5 receive indirect support in core content classes on a number and needs basis. Students may also apply for the AVID (Advancement via Individual Determination) program, taught by a licensed ESL instructor. Students who score above a 5.5 combined WIDA level in literacy (reading & writing) are no longer provided with direct or indirect services, but their progress is monitored.

Families of EL students have the option to waive ELL services. Students exercising this option do not receive direct ELD instruction but are monitored through a waiver review process annually.

Extracurricular and interdisciplinary supports

Students are supported in their Language Acquisition development through various extracurricular opportunities and interdisciplinary connections. Arts programming in the schools connects to the cultural backgrounds of students and the languages they are studying.

Some IB history courses focus on the cultures studied in Language Acquisition classes as well. Language Acquisition classes have accompanying clubs that meet after school to enrich the linguistic and cultural experience, and students have formed clubs based on their own cultural background and mother tongue. Various tutoring opportunities are provided after school as well.

Language Policy Development

The school language policy for the MYP/DP Programme at Southwest is available to all staff, students, and families on the Southwest website. The policy will be reviewed and refined on an ongoing basis.

Link to Printable Language Policy