Walk into any International or bilingual school in Vietnam, Indonesia, or Thailand, and you’ll hear a variety of languages and dialects. Students and staff might speak English, Vietnamese, Thai, Bahasa Indonesia, and sometimes all of the above.
This cultural diversity is one of the region’s greatest strengths. It creates globally minded learning environments where students connect across cultures and ideas. However, for teachers and administrators, it also brings a daily challenge - how to communicate clearly and consistently with parents who speak many different languages.
In schools where English is often the primary medium of instruction, not every parent feels comfortable engaging with written updates, school reports, or online systems. This can result in misunderstandings. Important messages can be missed, and parents who want to support their child’s learning may struggle to fully participate.
That’s why more International schools in Southeast Asia are expecting more from their Student Information System (SIS), hoping it might be the key to bridging these communication gaps, thereby transforming multilingual complexity into efficient, two-way engagement.
- The challenge of building connection in multilingual communities
- Centralising school communication with one system
- Multi-lingual portals and messaging for every family
- Stronger parent engagement thanks to clarity and consistency
- Building a culture of inclusivity is more than translation
- Seamless integration across the school
- iSAMS integrated solutions for whole-school communication
The challenge of building connection in multilingual communities
Across Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand, International schools cater to increasingly diverse communities. Local families choose international education for its global outlook and pathways to overseas universities, whereas expatriate families seek continuity and quality. Many schools blend national and international curricula to meet both expectations.
However, with that diversity comes complexity. Teachers may speak English as a first language, while parents prefer communication in their native tongue. Email chains and printed notices are often translated manually, which is a time-consuming process that can lead to inconsistencies or mistakes.
Meanwhile, modern parents receive updates from multiple channels, including WhatsApp groups, email newsletters, school apps, and printed reports. When each message looks or sounds slightly different, the result can often be confusion rather than clarity.
At its heart, this isn’t just a logistical problem - it’s a relational one. When parents don’t fully understand what’s being communicated, their confidence and engagement can fade. When communication breaks down, it’s the students who feel the impact most.
Centralising school communication with one system
The first step toward overcoming language barriers is centralisation. Instead of sending messages through scattered platforms, schools can manage all communication, including announcements, academic reports, attendance updates, and wellbeing notes, within a single, secure SIS.
With iSAMS, every piece of communication flows through one system. Teachers and administrators can share consistent information with parents and students simultaneously, across devices and time zones. Parents receive updates through a central, user-friendly portal or app, where messages are stored, searchable, and easy to access at any time.
This centralised approach eliminates the confusion of multiple channels and ensures that everyone, including staff, parents, and students, is working from the same information.
Most significantly, it creates the foundation for genuine two-way communication. Parents can respond directly within the system, giving feedback or asking questions in their preferred language, while schools maintain a clear, auditable record of every exchange.
Multi-lingual portals and messaging for every family
For schools across Southeast Asia, multilingual communication is an essential.
The iSAMS Parent Portal and iParent App make this seamless, allowing parents to access all key information in their chosen language. Whether it’s a student’s progress report, attendance summary, or school announcement, families can switch between English, Vietnamese, Thai, Bahasa Indonesia, and other supported languages at the tap of a button – thanks to the portal’s flexible in-browser translations.
By removing language as a barrier, schools create a more inclusive experience for parents of all backgrounds, therefore strengthening engagement and trust.
The benefit for administrators is just as important. Staff no longer need to duplicate messages or manually translate updates. The system handles language preferences automatically, saving time and ensuring accuracy across every channel.
Stronger parent engagement thanks to clarity and consistency
Parent engagement is one of the key motivators of student success. When families understand what’s happening in school, they can reinforce learning at home, celebrate achievements, and provide emotional support when students face challenges.
In multilingual communities, clear communication is the bridge that makes the home-school partnership possible.
With iSAMS, schools can send messages, reports, and announcements that are clear, consistent, and easy for every parent to understand. Regular communication, whether about grades, wellbeing, or upcoming events, becomes a conversation rather than a one-way broadcast.
This transparency also builds trust. When parents see that a school is making the effort to communicate in their language, they feel respected and valued. That sense of inclusion strengthens the relationship between home and school, helping to build a truly global community that still feels local and personal.
Building a culture of inclusivity is more than translation
Multilingual communication isn’t only about translation, it’s about belonging.
For many parents, especially those new to international education, the school environment can feel unfamiliar. English-language communication can sometimes seem formal or distant. By offering information in families’ home languages, schools send a clear message that each student and their family belong as part of the community.
This inclusive approach reflects the broader mission of international education, which is always to bring people together across cultures and perspectives. When communication tools support that mission, schools strengthen their identity as caring, connected communities.
For staff, multilingual software solutions also mean less administrative pressure. Teachers and pastoral leads can focus on relationships, not paperwork, knowing that messages reach every parent accurately and on time.
Seamless integration across the school
Multilingual communication through iSAMS means more than basic messages and announcements. It improves every part of the school experience.
- Academic Reporting: Teachers can write reports in English, while parents view them in their chosen language - ensuring clarity and consistency.
- Admissions: Prospective families can receive onboarding materials and welcome communications in their home language, creating a positive first impression.
- Wellbeing and Safeguarding: Sensitive updates can be communicated clearly and respectfully, helping parents stay informed and engaged in their child’s pastoral care.
Because every module in iSAMS connects intuitively, schools maintain a single source of truth - thereby reducing errors, ensuring data security, and supporting meaningful, multilingual engagement across the whole institution.
iSAMS integrated solutions for whole-school communication
In Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand, where linguistic and cultural diversity are part of everyday life, communication defines a school’s ability to connect and support its community of students.
An SIS like iSAMS helps schools move beyond the potential limitations of language and translation, enabling every parent to stay informed and involved in their child’s learning journey.
By uniting communication channels and empowering schools to speak every family’s language, iSAMS creates not just efficiency, but inclusivity. It helps international and bilingual schools strengthen their most important partnership: the one between home and school.
Discover how iSAMS helps International schools in Southeast Asia strengthen communication and connection across diverse communities. Explore our multi-lingual portals and communication tools today and how they connect with our SIS today.