We, educators at Sekolah Perkumpulan Mandiri (SPM), believe that language goes beyond subjects designed in the curriculum. We believe that all homeroom teachers and subject teachers are language teachers. Language lessons do not only provide a medium for language acquisition, but they also promote the development of the whole child.

Sekolah Perkumpulan Mandiri is a bilingual Indonesian-English medium school. With the majority of the students are born and raised in Indonesia with exposure to the English language since a very young age, and a small group of international students who have exposure to English language but lack of or no understanding of the Indonesian language.

We teach students the subject of Indonesian language (Bahasa Indonesia) as a mandatory mother tongue language and utilize the community for communication and cultural experiences throughout the curriculum. Also, the acquisition of English as a global language allows students to explore different cultural backgrounds and prepare them to be world-ready.

As we welcome students from various linguistic backgrounds, our language policy remains flexible so that we can create individually appropriate language support for a student who needs one. This view aligns with one of our school values that call for celebrating diversity and multiculturalism.

We recognise the vital role teachers play in developing language acquisition and believe in the importance of the mother tongue fluency. Therefore, our instructional activities are conducted in both Indonesian and English to accommodate students with varied linguistic competencies.

Cambridge subjects are taught in English, and the instructional materials are all given in English. Non-language subject teachers are also language teachers and should be developing students’ language skills. It is especially important to take into account those language skills required in their particular subject areas. Subject teachers are responsible for adapting their materials and teaching style to take into account the needs of students who are not native speakers of English. Additionally, subject teachers are encouraged to correct mistakes in English as well as the content of written work and to provide missing vocabulary where feasible.

As part of the national curriculum requirement, we teach the Indonesian Language subject from Primary to Senior High School. The Indonesian language is taught according to the standard competencies issued by the Indonesian Ministry of Education and in a way appropriate for students for whom the language is the mother tongue and who have reached the required competency in the language. For students whose mother tongue is not Indonesian or those who have near-native competence, bilingual approach (English-Indonesian) is used in daily teaching and learning. Students who have language challenges in the Indonesian language will be given curriculum accommodation or modification upon assessment by the Principal and School Counselor.

In Primary School, we teach Global English to Primary School students. Majority of the students in this group have English speaking and writing competency in the average to an above-average level. Instruction is delivered in English; however, support is provided for students who are struggling in reading or writing in English. Beginning Academic Year 2020-2021, English as a First Language (0844) syllabus will replace the Global English to enhance our students reading and writing skills as they progress to the next level Cambridge program.

In Junior High School, we teach the English as a First Language (1111) to our Grade 7-8 students to strengthen their foundation in academic reading and writing, which is an essential skill required in the IGCSE program. Students in Grade 9-10 learn English as the First Language (0500). For students with developing English competencies, the option to take English as the Second Language (with Speaking Endorsement) (0510) is available upon Principal and Vice-Principal approval. In Grade 11-12, students learn Academic Writing and IELTS to prepare them for their further studies at the university.

Assessment materials are provided in bilingual since primary years to accommodate students with different language needs, as well as to adjust students to the subject-specific terminologies in English and Indonesian for non-Cambridge subjects. For Cambridge subjects, instruction and assessment materials are conducted in the English language, aligning with the requirements of the Cambridge programs.

The Language Policy of Sekolah Perkumpulan Mandiri applies to the entire school community, the school management team, all educators and all students.