Mission Statement

Preparing students to become stewards of a just and sustainable world.

AISD provides a program based on American educational principles to students from an international community. We create an academic and social environment that challenges students to achieve their potential, become life-long learners and contribute to a changing global society

AISDHAKA
H O S T C U LT U R E STUDIES & BANGLA P RO G R A M I N T H E E L E M E N T A RY S C H O O L

A respect and appreciation for diversity is accepted as a shared global value, essential for intercultural understanding and central to education for sustainable development. UNESCOs Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity (2001) denes culture as the spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features of a social group including the values, beliefs, attitudes, behaviours, customs, traditions, practices, identity, lifestyle, language and religious faith of diverse peoples. The host culture / Bangla studies program at AISD aims to create opportunities for students to explore the commonalities of human experience through a multi-lingual cultural lens, with the aim of nurturing the qualities that build international mindedness.

Ms. Marina Helal (HCS / Bangla Teacher) mahelal@aisdhaka.org For more information about how the program looks at each individual grade level, please visit our HCS / Bangla wiki page: http://es-single-subjects.aisdtigers.wikispaces.net/ Host+Culture+Studies+-+Bangla

GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF THE PROGRAM

Fostering capacity for linguistic and cultural expression; by embracing the languages spoken by the AISD community, mother tongue can be used to nd common connections with the host culture Providing opportunities for all learners to learn about multilingual communities; including their own and that of the host country. Promoting tolerance, respect and appreciation of cultural diversity, and harmonious relations in society Teaching language through authentic contexts and a variety of communicative strategies that are purposeful Instruction ensures that learner s focus predominantly on language meaning but also develop form. New learning is built on prior knowledge; overall linguistic, cognitive and academic development must be recognized. Learner s reveal and demonstrate their understanding when they can apply, transfer, and adapt their learning to new and novel situations and problems using tools like multiple media. Effectively accommodating a learners preferred learning style, prior knowledge and interests enhances learning. Learning is nonlinear; it develops and deepens over time. Learning a language requires open-mindedness, tenacity, self-reliance, reection and the ability to take risks.

W H A T D O W E WA N T S T U D E N T S T O U N D E R S T A N D THROUGH OUR H.C.S / BANGLA PROGRAM?

The AISD host culture / Bangla studies program challenges students to aspire to and understand the value of multilingualism. The program strives to develop creative, critical, empathetic thinkers who can apply their knowledge to the interconnectedness of a globalized world. Students develop their Knowledge and awareness of the host culture by comparing and contrasting diverse ways of thinking, and developing deep understanding. In turn, our program provides the opportunity for students to become more culturally aware through the growth and integration of the learner prole attributes and attitudes that allow us to facilitate: Learning to Know - knowing and discovering with learning how to learn independently. Knowledge and awareness about other cultures, comparing and contrasting diverse ways of thinking, and developing deep understanding.

Learning to Do - creative and innovative application of knowledge using the full breadth of transdisciplinary and ICT skills, interpersonal communication, teamwork, through positive behaviours and relationships, living harmoniously and collaborating with others of diverse cultures.

Learning to Be - becoming a culturally aware person through the positive growth of attitudes and personal habits of mind. The centrality of values in learning to be occur in stages, starting from self-knowledge at the individual level, and progressing to understanding others through interactions at the collective level, as member of a family and community. Learning to Live Together - enables peaceful cooperation with others in all areas of human endeavor, through knowledge, understanding and appreciation of others culture and values, mutual respect, equity and peaceful resolution of conict towards harmonious interdependence.