Language Policy

Philosophy and Principles

At Ybarra Academy of the Arts & Technology, we believe that language is fundamental to the development of each individual's identity, intercultural understanding and access to the broader world. We recognize that language learning is a central aspect of academic and social growth, enabling students to communicate effectively, think critically, and become lifelong learners. At Ybarra, we view language as an integral part of the curriculum, providing students with a way to construct meaning and develop understanding. We aim to create language-rich environments where all students have opportunities to learn and use language in meaningful ways across the curriculum and in their everyday lives. 

At Ybarra Academy, our commitment to the following principles guides our approach to language instruction, ensuring that every student is empowered to become a confident communicator. 

• Every teacher is a language teacher, responsible for supporting students’ language development. 

• Language is a tool for thinking and learning. Through language, students can construct meaning and express themselves in both written and oral forms. 

• We value and promote multilingualism, recognizing that learning languages helps students understand and appreciate different cultures, traditions, and perspectives. Students who learn more than one language become more internationally-minded and aware of their global community. 

• We believe in encouraging the use of our students’ mother tongues in supporting their language development, as it is important for cognitive development and cultural identity. 

At Ybarra, 18% of our students are English Language Learners. We recognize our students’ diverse linguistic backgrounds and are committed to providing differentiated support to meet individual language needs. We encourage parents to read, write, and speak with their children in their native language, fostering not only the love of reading and writing but also the understanding of family and culture.   

Language Learning and Teaching

Classroom Instruction

The standard language of instruction at Ybarra Academy is English. Teachers regularly read a variety of texts aloud, including fiction, nonfiction, and culturally diverse literature. This practice models fluent reading, introduces new vocabulary, and exposes students to different genres and writing styles. 

At Ybarra, the writing workshop model is widely used, allowing students to practice drafting, revising, and sharing different types of writing, such as narratives, persuasive pieces, and informational reports. Teachers provide individual feedback, helping students develop both their writing skills and their ability to convey ideas effectively. 

Opportunities for students to practice speaking and listening are integrated daily through oral presentations, class discussions, and conversations with peers. Students engage in collaborative conversations, such as think-pair-share, to practice articulating ideas, listening to others, and building on peer responses through accountable talk strategies. 

Through small group instruction, students will receive targeted language support based on their needs, including guided reading groups, phonics groups, and literature circles. During these sessions, teachers provide instruction focused on skills like decoding, comprehension, and fluency. 

Students are also provided with language support in their mother tongue by teachers, instructional assistants, and peers whenever possible. Additionally, technology is utilized as a tool to support language instruction, offering engaging and interactive ways to develop reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. Resources such as Seesaw, Flipgrid, BrainPOP, Google Translate provide students with opportunities to practice and develop their language skills. 

English Language Development Instruction

English Language Development (ELD) instruction is essential in supporting students who are learning English. It focuses on helping students progress towards proficiency in English while also developing their academic language skills.

Students are placed into groups based on their English Language Proficiency Assessment for California (ELPAC) levels. During these 30-minute sessions, instruction is tailored to meet the specific needs of students at each level, including explicit vocabulary instruction, grammar and sentence structure, language conventions, and listening/speaking practice.

Throughout the day, instruction is differentiated to support English Language Learners. Strategies include Total Physical Response (TPR), visual cues, realia, sentence frames, GLAD strategies, conferencing, differentiated leveled texts, and tools such as Google Translate.

Mother Tongue Support

At Ybarra Academy, we encourage families to read, write, and speak with their children in their native languages. We believe that supporting students’ mother tongue is essential for cultural identity, cognitive development, and promoting a sense of belonging. 

Teachers strive to create multilingual environments in their classrooms, valuing all languages. Students are encouraged to use their mother tongue during research, brainstorming, and discussions when learning new concepts. 

The school is committed to maintaining a multilingual library that represents the diverse languages, cultures, and ethnicities within the Ybarra community. 

Additional Language

Students in first through sixth grade at Ybarra Academy receive World Language instruction in Spanish once per week for 50 minutes. As part of the IB PYP, Spanish is taught using a FLEX (Foreign Language Exploration) model. FLEX is designed to promote basic communication skills in Spanish while also providing opportunities for cultural and global awareness. 

Learning a new language encourages risk-taking, open mindedness and communicative thinking. Studying Spanish will help develop bilingualism in students and, for many, multilingualism. Additionally, students will receive further support in the classroom to enhance their acquisition of the Spanish language.  

Library

Students visit the school library weekly with their class to check out books. The library is also available for classes to use for research and the enjoyment of reading. The library is filled with books from various genres and languages, including Spanish, our foreign language of instruction. 

The library supports literacy development, fosters a love for reading, and provides resources for language and inquiry-based learning. 

ELD Placement 

As students enroll at Ybarra Academy, parents are required to complete a Home Language Survey. This survey informs the school if another language other than English is spoken at home. If so, the child is administered the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC).

The ELPAC assesses reading, writing, listening and speaking skills, determining the appropriate placement level for the child’s English Language Development (ELD). Testing results are recorded in students’ ELPAC folders and updated yearly. 

Professional Growth

All staff members attend training for the IB PYP and are encouraged to attend professional development in areas that support various forms of language instruction. Collaborative grade-level meetings are held weekly and are supported by our IB Coordinator. 

Our district Language Program Specialists provides professional development and support for our teachers.