The benefits of attending a BML SMART School

International College Hong Kong Hong Lok Yuen (ICHK HLY) is the only Bilingual and Multilingual Learners (BML) Smart School in Hong Kong and, impressively, one of just six worldwide. Head of School, Derek Pinchbeck, discusses what this means for students attending the school and how it helps them excel socially and academically. 

What is a BML SMART School?

Accredited BML SMART Schools are committed to better understanding and supporting the needs of their bilingual and multilingual learners. Teachers receive training in best practices and approaches for bilingual and multilingual students. This training helps them anticipate BML students’ needs and deliver material accordingly. Teachers also better understand different cultural backgrounds and how to approach topics meaningfully. We view the ability to speak multiple languages as a benefit and consider students learning to speak more than one language as incredibly competent learners, even if their English is imperfect. 

What are the advantages of students attending a BML SMART School?

ICHK Hong Lok Yuen is a very happy school, which stems from children feeling valued and accepted for who they are. We celebrate diversity; students are encouraged to teach each other about their cultures. 

Children feel settled and happy; they can excel academically and socially from these roots. Our statistics show this; for example, students make faster than anticipated progress with their reading abilities whether they be native English speaking or bilingual or multilingual. 

What does this look like in the classroom? 

We plan lessons with an awareness of the issues that BML students may encounter. Sometimes, we slow lessons down to allow more time for students to process information. For example, perhaps a BML student may be translating a maths problem into their native language and back again before answering; in this case, we anticipate that they may need a little more time. Lesson plans and structures accommodate this. 

We also emphasise understanding students’ unique cultures and identities. For example, when teaching a concept that might not exist in the child’s native language, the teacher will offer additional explanations and resources to better aid learning. 

How does this impact native English-speaking students?

BML teaching principles benefit everyone, including monolingual, bilingual, and multilingual students. We often use the phrase ‘useful for all, essential for some’. Slowing things down and providing further explanations on vocabulary development is helpful for all students, including our native English-speaking students. However, it’s essential for BML students. 

What motivated ICHK HLY to strive for this accreditation? 

Most children at ICHK HLY are bilingual; many are multilingual. We want to ensure that the teaching happening in every classroom suits every student, so by training every single teacher in BML teaching strategies, we ensure that students receive information delivered in a meaningful and digestible way for all of our children. 

Derek Pinchbeck is Head of School at ICHK Hong Lok Yuen (Kindergarten and Primary) 3, Twentieth Street, Hong Lok Yuen, Tai Po, New Territories. For more information or to arrange a tour, call 3955 3000, email info@ichkhly.edu.hk, admissions@ichkhly.edu.hk, or visit ichkhly.edu.hk