Languages
The College aims to challenge students to become global citizens with international-mindedness a priority in their thinking and problem solving. Through the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme the College aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable young people with respect for all cultures.
Study of Languages
Through the study of languages, students not only acquire skills in a second language, but they learn more about other cultures and life perspectives, enabling empathy and identifying opportunities for service. The College recognises that every teacher is a language teacher, supporting student’s communication through both written and spoken forms.
All students in the IBPYP are required to study a language in addition to English. At Good Shepherd Lutheran College, German and French are taught from Transition to Year 5.
Leanyer and Palmerston Campuses offer French language while Howard Springs Junior School offers German.
The program is designed to provide students with the opportunity to become proficient in a second language by the end of the IBMYP (Year 10). In Year 6, students participate in a Language Carousel program, which gives all students the opportunity to explore three languages; German, French and Japanese.
At the conclusion of Year 6, students place a request for the language they wish to pursue further in Middle School. Selection into each Language class is based on effort and achievement with numbers in some languages limited.