Our Language Program

Language acquisition is an essential element for students to connect, engage, and thrive in their lives and learning. Our primary language of instruction is English. All students will also study Japanese at a level suitable for their abilities, from beginners to first language speakers for a minimum of one calendar year in the upper school and throughout the three years of middle school.

As multicultural interactions are embedded in our core beliefs and values, both multilingualism and a global outlook are key to student success. Language provides insights into a region’s cultural values and can provide a deeper appreciation of cultural differences and mores that might enhance appreciation of differences and a greater understanding of other peoples and their worldviews.

Ingrained in the Project Based Learning program are opportunities to grow and develop the language skills of all students by embedding language lessons and critical reading, writing, and speaking opportunities into each project.

As part of our commitment to personalize learning and make instruction accessible, HIS offers language support to all first-language English speakers and multilingual speakers to improve their English reading, writing, and speaking skills to reach a level suitable for success in university or reaching their long-term career goals.