Celebrating International Mother Language Day
An Interview with OIS Multilingual Learning (MLL) Specialists Ms Valentina and Ms Margit
At our school, we are proud of the many languages spoken by our students and families. We spoke with our Multilingual Learning (MLL) Specialists to learn more about how languages are valued and used every day in our classrooms.
Q: Who are Multilingual Learners (MLL) at our school?
A: At our school, multilingual learners are all students who speak, or are learning more than one language. As we’re all learning English and Dutch at school, all our students are seen as multilingual learners. We see multilingualism as a strength and an important part of who our students are.
Q: How are different languages used in class?
A: We encourage students to use all of their languages to help them learn. Students might discuss ideas with a partner in their home language before sharing in English. They may plan, brainstorm, or clarify their thinking using the language they feel strongest in. Using all their languages helps students understand learning more deeply and build confidence. We also encourage the use of all languages in order for the students to keep developing their skills in all of them, as much as possible; the more you focus on only one language, the less academic and proficient you become in your other languages. We try to tackle that.
Q: What is the school’s advice about home learning?
A: We encourage families to discuss and complete home learning tasks in their home language, unless the task is English-specific (such as spelling or grammar practice). If your child understands a concept well in the home language, that understanding transfers to English.
Please support your child with academic vocabulary and new words in your language. Talking about Maths, Science, reading, and other subjects at home — in any language — makes a big difference.
Q: Why is it important to keep developing the home language?
A: A strong home language builds a strong learner. It strengthens thinking skills, identity, expression, and confidence. When children are proud of their languages, they are more confident in school. We want students to feel that every language they speak belongs here.
Q: Do you have any tips for families?
A: Yes!
- Continue speaking your home language every day.
- Support your child in learning new academic vocabulary in your language.
- Encourage your child to explain their learning to you in the language they feel most confident using.
- Consider finding a weekend or after-school activity in your heritage language, such as a language school, cultural group, or community class.
- Join reading sessions at your local public library. Cpunt in Hoofddorp offers monthly Reading and Crafting sessions in Romanian, Chinese, Spanish, English, and Turkish: https://www.cpunt.nl/agenda/kidsjeugd
OBA (Amsterdam Public Library) hosts monthly or weekly sessions in English, Hindi, Dutch, Russian, Spanish, Polish, Romanian, Italian and Turkish at different locations: https://oba.nl/nl/agenda/volledige-agenda - Join our MLL specialists at the monthly MLL Morning: Chats and Chai for guidance and support. Upcoming meeting dates are: 13 March, 10 April, and 22 May 2026.
- Deepen your knowledge with this free, research-based practical guide for parents:
https://bilingualfamily.org/materials/guide-for-parents/
Q: Do you have any tips for families?
At our school, we believe languages are assets. Every Optimist student brings valuable cultural knowledge and experiences to our community. Thank you for helping us celebrate and strengthen the languages that make our school so special!
We’re thrilled to share this video, starring our students and staff in a rainbow of languages! Watch it by clicking the link below!