Language Program
Unlocking a World of Opportunities: Discover the Language Program at Ekya
Our Language program equips individuals with the tools to navigate a world of diverse communication. We foster a love for reading, writing, and communication, empowering students to become articulate and expressive individuals. The program cultivates multilingualism from an early age, fostering cognitive flexibility and broadening cultural perspectives, preparing children to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.
Learning Area Purpose
The Language Program equips learners to:
- Make meaning of the language.
- Understand a variety of texts and develop an informed appreciation for literature.
- Communicate effectively and creatively, according to the medium and the audience.
Key Learning Experiences:
The Language Program equips learners to:
- Our Three-Language Approach:Â
- English: The medium of instruction for all students across all campuses
- Kannada: The local language, offered at different levels to all our students.
- Hindi / French: Hindi is offered to Primary School students, while Middle School students can choose an additional language between Hindi and French.
- A booklist with a difference: This booklist for the English Language Program is designed to provide students with a diverse range of texts that will engage them, challenge them, and inspire them.
- Focus on essential skills: The curriculum includes thoughtful and engaging content focused on building essential skills like reading, writing, speaking and listening using fiction, non-fiction and poetry.
- Use of the Writing Process: The writing process is a significant part of the language program where all writing is treated as a creative act which requires time and positive feedback. Students use feedback to modify their work and have to return to the prewriting step to develop and expand their ideas.
Languages Offered
| Category | Languages | Grades |
|---|---|---|
| First Language | English | Grades 1-12 |
| Second Languages | Kannada, Hindi, French | Grades 1-10 (French from Grades 5 & 6) |
| Third Languages | Kannada, Hindi, French | Grades 5-8 |
At Ekya Schools, we embrace linguistic diversity and follow a three-language approach. Our language program aims to foster multilingualism, promote cultural understanding, and prepare students for a globalized world. The Language Program is based on a set of standards that indicate a progression that charts a clear path to developing language skills. The comprehensive set of
learning objectives details what a learner should know, understand and be able to do in each year of learning the language and covers knowledge, skills and understanding.
Our Three-Language Approach
• English: The medium of instruction across all our
campuses.
• Kannada: The local language, offered at different
levels to all our students.
• Hindi/French: Hindi is offered to Primary School
students, while Middle School students can choose
an additional language between Hindi and French
The Key Features of Our Language Program are
– A balanced approach to developing proficiency in all
three languages learnt
– Flexibility in language selection based on student
preferences and regional context
– Dedicated language classes for each of the three
languages
– Use of innovative teaching methods and relevant
reading resources, digital and otherwise
– Regular assessments to track language proficiency
Love to Read Program
Ekya’s ‘Love to Read Program’ encourages students to explore new genres, authors, and stories, developing essential skills and fostering a lifelong love for reading. The program includes experiences such as
- Reading Initiatives: Introduce initiatives like Drop Everything And Read (DEAR) time, Reading Week, and Read-aloud events to promote reading.
- Ekya Publications: Curate and showcase student work through Ekya Publications.
- Creating Literature: Create literature to empower students to become confident writers.
- Author Talks: Our students engage with and draw inspiration from popular Authors.
- Guided Levelled Reading Program: Implement a program to support all readers and their diverse reading abilities.
- Literary Circle: Foster literary engagement through the School’s Literary Circle.
- School Book Club: Participate in the School Book Club.
Immersion into Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry
Ekya, through our language program, students will delve into diverse genres of books. Each student is distinct, so we encourage them to explore various genres and discover their ideal fit.
- Inclusion of Indian Authors: Award-winning Indian authors’ works are featured in contemporary Indian settings.
- Building Empathy: Diverse book titles help build empathy and understanding among students.
- Overview of the Book Plan: A plan designed based on international benchmarks and standards prepares students for various language uses.
- Grade-Specific reference books: Grade-specific books, such as ‘Sunita Williams- A Star in Space’ by Aravinda Anantharaman for Grade 5, are provided.
- Books About Books: Early grades start the year with stories that celebrate books and libraries, fostering a love for reading from a young age.
- Summer Reading Program: A structured summer reading program encourages children to read during school breaks.
Writing Process
The writing process is a significant part of the language program where all writing is treated as a creative act which requires time and positive feedback. Students use feedback to modify their work and have to return to the prewriting step to develop and expand their ideas.
- Prewrite: Students generate ideas, choose a topic, and outline their approach.
- Research: Sources are identified, information is gathered, and findings are categorised.
- Draft: The next step is to write freely, review their work, and revise until satisfied.
- Revise: Then, paragraphs are reorganised, unclear language is replaced, and content is refined.
- Edit & Proofread: The final step involves reviewing formatting, grammar, and punctuation to ensure a polished product.
Language Tools
Ekya’s language program employs interactive techniques like Reader’s Theater and Author’s Chair to enhance literacy skills, foster creativity, and build community, making student thinking visible and deepening comprehension through peer collaboration.
- Reader’s Theater: Perform scripts to enhance reading fluency and comprehension.
- Reading Jigsaws: Read, summarise, and share sections of a text to piece together the full story.
- Author’s Chair: Share writing and receive feedback to build a supportive writing environment.
Learning Area Purpose
The Language program equips learners to:
- Make meaning of the language
- Understand a variety of texts and develop an informed appreciation for literature
- Communicate effectively and creatively, according to the medium and the audience
Key Learning Experiences
Love to Read Program
Ekya’s ‘Love to Read Program’ encourages students to explore new genres, authors, and stories, developing essential skills and fostering a lifelong love for reading. The program includes experiences such as –Â
- Author Talks: Â Our students engage with and draw inspiration from popular Authors
- Guided Levelled Reading Program: Implement a program to support all readers and their diverse reading abilities.
- Literary Circle: Foster literary engagement through the School’s Literary Circle.
- School Book Club:Â Participate in the School Book Club.
- Reading Initiatives: Introduce initiatives like Drop Everything And Read (DEAR) time, Reading Week, and Read-aloud events to promote reading.
- Ekya Publications: Curate and showcase student work through Ekya Publications.
- Creating Literature: Create literature to empower students to become confident writers.
Immersion into Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry
Ekya, through our language program, students will delve into diverse genres of books. Each student is distinct, so we encourage them to explore various genres and discover their ideal fit.
- Inclusion of Indian Authors: Award-winning Indian authors’ works are featured in contemporary Indian settings.
- Building Empathy:Â Diverse book titles help build empathy and understanding among students.
- Overview of the Book Plan: A plan designed based on international benchmarks and standards prepares students for various language uses.
- Grade-Specific reference books: Grade-specific books, such as ‘Sunita Williams- A Star in Space’ by Aravinda Anantharaman for Grade 5, are provided.
- Books About Books: Early grades start the year with stories that celebrate books and libraries, fostering a love for reading from a young age.
- Summer Reading Program- A structured summer reading program encourages children to read during school breaks.
Writing Process
The writing process is a significant part of the language program where all writing is treated as a creative act which requires time and positive feedback. Students use feedback to modify their work and have to return to the prewriting step to develop and expand their ideas.
- Prewrite: Students generate ideas, choose a topic, and outline their approach.
- Research: Sources are identified, information is gathered, and findings are categorised.
- Draft: The next step is to write freely, review their work, and revise until satisfied.
- Revise: Then, paragraphs are reorganised, unclear language is replaced, and content is refined.
- Edit & Proofread: The final step involves reviewing formatting, grammar, and punctuation to ensure a polished product.
Language Tools
Ekya’s language program employs interactive techniques like Reader’s Theater and Author’s Chair to enhance literacy skills, foster creativity, and build community, making student thinking visible and deepening comprehension through peer collaboration.
- Reader’s Theater: Perform scripts to enhance reading fluency and comprehension.Â
- Reading Jigsaws: Read, summarise, and share sections of a text to piece together the full story.Â
- Author’s Chair: Share writing and receive feedback to build a supportive writing environment.