English as an Additional Language (EAL) Support

English as an Additional Language (EAL) is a paid program at ISB which supports students who struggle in subject classes taught in English. The EAL department works closely with subject teachers to support EAL pupils with maximum knowledge of and consistency with what is taught in the ISB curricula.

EAL students’ English levels are not at grade-level and to optimise their learning experience at ISB, they are required to participate in the EAL program until they reach a similar level of English as their classmates. They are continually taught, monitored, and tested by the EAL department so they may join the mainstream classes as soon as possible.

ISB’s EAL program aims to ensure that EAL pupils

• Become confident enough to participate in all classes taught in English
• Develop fluency in all areas of English
• Acquire subject-specific vocabulary
• Gain full access to ISB’s English curriculum
• Develop an appropriate understanding of written language
• Produce appropriate written language

All students who are accepted at ISB may need EAL support, and this is established either before they start, or after one or two weeks of starting at the school. EAL students can receive 4 and 8 hours of EAL support, depending on need. All EAL lessons are aligned with the Cambridge curriculum.

The EAL program is not optional, and students can only exit the program once the EAL department and subject teachers conclude the student is ready to join the mainstream classroom.

EAL begins in Grade 2. Students in Grade 1 are monitored and assessed by their teachers and the Curriculum Coordinator throughout the year. At the end of Grade 1, those teachers make their EAL recommendations to the EAL department regarding those students who need further support in the coming year.

Pull-out lessons

Pull-out lessons are taught for a maximum of ten students (Grade 2 and up), though these lessons usually have between three and six students. Pull-out lessons focus on grammar, vocabulary, speaking, reading and writing. This is the most intensive and comprehensive EAL provision offered at ISB. Pull-out lessons are extremely effective for students who are either new to English or new to classes taught in English.

Push-in lessons

Push-in lessons are offered for a maximum of four students per group. In these unique lessons, an EAL teacher joins the EAL students in subject classes while the subject teacher teaches as usual. This is most often done in ELL classes. The EAL teacher acts like a teaching assistant for only the EAL students in the room. The EAL teacher is responsible for making sure each EAL student can access the material being taught, participate, and complete assignments in the lessons. In certain situations, push-in lessons are more beneficial in social studies or science lessons. In those instances, push-in lessons are arranged by the EAL department, the Vice Principal, and the subject teachers.

Students enrolled in EAL may take the Cambridge examination prescribed for students one grade lower and they have the option of taking an EAL Cambridge examination instead of a mainstream ELL examination, up to the EAL teacher’s discretion.

In some cases, students can be exempted from grading at the school’s discretion if found that they cannot access the curriculum at a given time. Grades given in EAL are based on English as an Additional Language, which means that the students will be receiving subjective grades and will be graded according to their level of English. This differs from the grades that students receive in their ELL classes, in which students are compared to native speakers of English.

EAL reduction (From 8 lessons to four) or exiting the EAL program will occur at the end of a semester.