English for Speakers of Other Languages

IICS is an international school with a history of offering a rigorous and caring program for language learners. Many students attending IICS are not native English speakers, though many speak two or even three languages. Though the percentage changes from year to year, approximately 65% of IICS students are native speakers of English. Students who speak little or no English are accepted into IICS up to and including Year 8. After this, students are tested to see if, with ESL support, they will be able to meet the expectations of the IB Diploma Programme.

In the IICS Primary ESL Program, emphasis is placed on developing language in the four-skill area of reading, writing, listening and speaking, using methods designed for culturally and linguistically diverse students. Students are given opportunities to practice and apply language through interaction with adults and peers, hands-on learning experiences, and activities that promote critical thinking.

IICS Primary ESL Mission Statement
To provide high quality, authentic instruction and activities that enable English language learners to acquire the social and academic English needed to achieve in all content areas.

IICS Primary ESL aims to:

Enable students to acquire English as an additional language so that they are able to fully participate in all aspects of academic and social school life;
Help students to access content-based language that can be used in meaningful classroom interactions;
Help students develop a voice in the PYP units of inquiry;
Provide students with a “safe haven” where they can learn and experiment with new language before using it in the classroom;
Create an environment where students feel comfortable and secure, where they can share feelings and opinions with each other; and
Provide on-going assessment of students, in collaboration with classroom teachers.

IICS Primary ESL Program

Non-native English speakers are scheduled to have three periods of English language support per day. Newcomers and beginning students receive additional intensive language support for a minimum period of six weeks.
The program provides instruction in language acquisition, speaking, listening, reading and writing.
The program includes developing social and academic vocabulary including that related to the unit of inquiry as well as developing and consolidating reading, comprehension, grammar and writing skills.

IICS Primary Entry and Exit Procedures

Entry to the Primary ESL program is determined by a number of factors including information and records received upon application to the school and recommendations from one of the student's previous teacher.
Successful Exit from the program involves discussion with the grade level teacher, parents, and student after the ESL teacher completes a series of formal and informal assessments.

THE ESL PROGRAM IN MYP (GRADES 7-10)
Students who speak little or no English are accepted into IICS up to and including Year 8.

Testing
All incoming MYP students who are identified as possibly in need of ESL support are assessed through an on-campus listening and writing sample as well as an interview with an ESL teacher and/or an administrator.

Placement
Students are then placed in ESL classes, meaning students are withdrawn from one or two mainstream classes, such as English and Humanities, for ESL-specific support until they are proficient enough in English to attend those classes. Alternatively, when appropriate, an ESL teacher works with students in the mainstream classroom. Whenever possible the ESL teacher will support students by helping them understand their work in their other mainstream classes.

The MYP guidelines regarding second language acquisition suggests that three to seven years may be necessary for an ESL student to gain complete academic proficiency in English.

ESL after Grade 8
Students are accepted into IICS with little or no English up to and including Year 8. After this, students are tested to see if, with ESL support, they will be able to meet the expectations of the IB Diploma Programme. In Years 9 and 10, the emphasis is on the acquisition of academic reading and writing skills to prepare the students for the IB Diploma Programme in Years 11 and 12.