Language Program Connects Students to Home Country

An ICS Addis tradition of more than a decade continued on Wednesday, as the community kicked off another year of the Home Languages Program.

The community-run program is designed for international students to create, maintain, and grow connections with their home country and culture by building relationships using their native languages with their peers.

“Home languages are part of who we are, our identity,” Joris, an ICS student said. “They connect learners with their family, their home country, their culture. Not only that, they are an essential part of learning.”

Led by parent volunteers with the support of ICS French Teacher Pascaline Dacharry and PYP Coordinator Lucy Elliott, this year’s offerings include Amharic, German, French, Swahili, Italian, and Spanish. The weekly sessions are not language classes but are designed as opportunities for conversation and exchange.

See more photos from the first week here.

“As a truly diverse international school, it is essential for us to give our children the chance to connect around their culture using their home language and build an identity and a community around their heritage,” ICS parent and board member Karin Steiner said, who is co-leading the German group. “This allows our children to build roots tied to their home countries despite being far away, and it helps them prepare for a future in which they may be studying, working, and forming relationships in their native language. It’s a beautiful thing and an important offering from the school.”

The Home Language Program remains open to adding more options for students. Parents who are interested in facilitating classes can volunteer by reaching out to Pascaline or Lucy. High school students also have the opportunity to earn service hours by supporting the weekly sessions alongside the parent leaders. Reach out if you’d like to volunteer!