Dear Parents,
We’re excited to share some significant updates to our English Language Support Services with you. As always, we are continually enhancing our programs and services to provide the very best educational experience for your children.
Throughout the PYP, MYP and DP sections, English is the language of access and inclusion for learning and interactions. We believe that proficiency in the language of instruction (English) is a right and a responsibility for our students. All students are expected to learn and use English within the learning environment and in most social interactions during the school day.
We provide a wide range of services across all three programs (PYP, MYP and DP) to ensure our students fully develop their English language proficiency throughout their learning journey at our school.
PYP
- Dedicated English Language Specialist for each Elementary year level (all students) in collaboration with class teachers. Features: Our approach ensures a deep understanding of individual students and the curriculum in each year level. Year level specific English Language Specialists provide a range of English language support and instruction for individual students or groups of students in addition to collaborating with the class teacher to differentiate instruction and assessment based on individual student needs.
- Beginner Intensive English Development Program (fee paying for new students during their first year or two years in our school). Features: Regular intensive pull out and in class interventions, as well as differentiated work/assessments for beginning English Language Learners
- Writing Workshops/Ateliers (all students) Features: Small group sessions that emphasize standard spelling and grammar and develop syntax, sentence structure, paragraphs and vocabulary development
- Reading Conferences (all students) in collaboration with class teachers Features: Regular one to one personalized sessions with students about self-chosen literature to develop individual thinking and the personal development of ideas and strategies
MYP
- EAL (English as Additional Language) Intensive Support in M1-3 (fee paying for new students during their first year or two years in our school). Features: Small group pull-out lessons with an English Language Specialist, focusing on key language for Sciences and Humanities; drop-in sessions in the EAL Center offering individualised feedback and one-on-one support
- EAL Moderate Support in M1-5 in collaboration with subject teachers. Features: one-on-one or small group drop-in sessions in the EAL Center tailored to students’ individual needs, offering support with writing for different purposes and developing academic vocabulary
- English reading and writing support in M1-5 (available to all students at all levels). Features: one-on-one or small group drop-in sessions in the EAL Center tailored to students’ needs and subject requirements, offering support with reading and writing texts for different purposes and developing and extending subject specific vocabulary
- Foundation Year M4-5 (fee paying for new students during their first year or two years in our school). Features: 4 pull-out lessons with an English Language Specialist; 4 lessons during History and Science (a combination of co-teaching and pull-out support) to provide students with differentiated input and scaffolded tasks
DP
- Academic Writing Clinics Features: one-to-one or small group sessions with an English Language Specialist focusing on academic English (e.g. essay writing skills, research skills, preparation for examinations and internal assessment)
Future English Language Support in all three programs: PYP, MYP and DP
- English support will be provided to all students who would benefit from these services.
- A range of evidence will be evaluated to determine the type and level of English language support our students may need.
- Paid language support is only required for students who are both new to the school and new to English during their first year, or two years, of enrolment in the PYP, MYP or DP programs at our school.
- Students who need additional support in secondary school will receive this in such a way that they will be able to attend all the same subjects as their peers, though they may need to be pulled out of specific lessons for 1:1 or small group language support.
To learn more about our approach please plan to participate in our upcoming Parent Education sessions:
- PYP: Personalizing Our Approach to Literacy: An Introduction to Reading and Writing Conferences with Literacy Expert Dan Feigelson – Tuesday, November 7, 2023 – 14:00-15:00 – PYP Outlook (in person only)
- PYP: Language Development/Language Acquisition in the PYP – Tuesday, January 30, 2024 – 8:45-10:15 – PYP Outlook (in person only)
- MYP: Afternoon Tea with EAL Team – Monday, November 13 – 16:30-17:30 – EAL Center (MYP building)
We are looking forward to seeing all of our students continue to flourish at our school and benefit further from these enhanced English Language Support services.
Thank you for reading,
Jane Andrews, Emiliano Cori, Conan de Wilde