Identity and Belonging: The Home Language Mural
By Sean Gerard, Communications Team, UWCSEA Dover
5 March 2026
To celebrate Home Language Week, coinciding with UNESCO International Mother Language Day, students from the Home Languages Programme (HLP) at UWCSEA Dover and students supported by the Student-Supported Language (SSL) programme collaborated with the Arts Department to create a collective Identity Word Mural in the Tent Plaza. Students were invited to choose a single word in their home language that represents their identity.
A Shared Portrait of Diversity
The idea grew from a powerful question: How do students see themselves through their languages? "In a multilingual community like ours, language is not just a subject of study; it is memory, family, culture and belonging," says Pilar Jimenez, Head of Multilingualism. The mural serves as a physical anchor for reflection, allowing students to express their inner selves in an authentic way.
For students like Tihani, Grade 6, the choice was deeply personal. She chose the German word 'Zuhause', meaning home. "Home for me is not just where I live, but also places like my school, where I feel I will always be welcomed," she explains. Similarly, Lilianna, Grade 9, chose 'zusammen' (together), noting that as a third culture kid, language ties her to her heritage and family during events like Christmas.
Sophie, Grade 8, chose '할머니' (grandmother) because her grandmother is the one who has tried the hardest to teach her Korean. For Claire, Grade 4, the word was '아빠' (dad) because her father's side of the family is Korean, and the language represents her culture.
Catalina, Grade 9, contributed the French word 'amour'. "My home language helps me stay close to my family and my culture," she shares. Seovynn, Grade 3, chose '유일한 나라' (unique country) because it represents the special meaning Korea holds for her.
Strengthening Identity and Connection
The HLP supports students in developing literacy in languages they speak at home but do not formally study during the school day. By maintaining these languages, students bring their full identities into the classroom, strengthening their confidence and continuity with their heritage.
The mural becomes a shared portrait of who we are as a linguistic community, Pilar explains. Recognising how meaningful language and identity are for each of us is essential if we are to build the peace our world so much needs.
Grade 8 student, Noa, reflects how deeply the mural’s message resonates. Noa chose the Spanish word 'Social', explaining: "I think it is important because everyone should be able to explore their culture and identity at school, as well as being exposed to other cultures."
Why Multilingualism Matters
The collaboration between the HLP student volunteers and the Arts Department, led by Seth Madden, Interim Head of Visual Arts, transformed individual reflections into a cohesive statement – one that highlights that every language, whether spoken by many or only a few, is valuable to our community.
By valuing these diverse stories, the mural acts as a bridge, nurturing the mutual understanding and respect that are central to a UWCSEA education. As Pilar concludes: "The mural is not only a celebration of diversity, it is an invitation to build bridges between cultures."
Student Reflections: What My Home Language Means to Me
It makes me feel I actually belong in Korea because of how I can express myself. – Seovynn, Grade 3
It helps me speak with my family in Germany, so I don't ever feel excluded. – Tihani, Grade 6
It means getting closer to the half of my culture that I always felt a bit distant to. – Lilianna, Grade 9
I hope people feel proud of the diversity in our school and see how languages bring people together. – Catalina, Grade 9
I think it can be very meaningful, especially after the recent events. For us, multilingualism is deeply connected to intercultural understanding and the hope that our world can achieve peace. Understanding who you are and your own identity gives you the ability to understand how others feel about theirs. Recognising how meaningful language and identity are for each of us is essential if we are to understand one another and build the peace our world so much needs.
– Pilar Jimenez, Head of Multilingualism
