English as an Additional Language (EAL) Program

Aim of the program

The primary objective of the English as an Additional Language teachers (EAL) is to support students whose first language is not English and have not yet achieved proficiency in English reading, writing, speaking, and listening. 

Language support is provided through Academic English (AE), a course available to all students. In Academic English, students develop reading, writing, and vocabulary skills they can then apply in their core classes in Social Studies, Science, English, and Math.  Academic English teachers also assist students with assessments from their core classes and communicate with core teachers about student needs and progress.

EAL teachers also work with the 9th Grade and 10th Grade Language Enhanced courses (LE Program). LE classes are for 9th and 10th graders with an intermediate level English proficiency and do not have the academic language base necessary to be successful in mainstream classes. The LE Program includes an English class that focuses on the forms and functions of the language, a second English class, “sheltered” to make the content comprehensible to students, and “sheltered” Social Studies 9 (LE). Sheltered classes are essentially the same as co-taught classes, however, the teacher is responsible for teaching both language and content.  The LE Program is designed to build student proficiency to a level that will allow them to be successful in tenth grade and beyond. 

Finally, EAL teachers provide professional development for teachers interested in implementing language-learning strategies into their curriculum. Additionally, EAL teachers are on PLC teams in the Social Studies and Science departments and provide consultation to team members in unit design and strategy implementation. 

Entry to the program

• Primarily based on student need identified by quantitative and qualitative data