English as an Additional Language (EAL) Provision at AISJ

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Here you will find the following EAL information:

* What we think - AISJ’s Philosophy of EAL  

 *How you can help your child- tips for parents  

 *Starting school at AISJ – The admissions procedure for EAL students  

 * EAL in the Elementary school  

 * EAL in the Secondary school  

 *More information   

If you need this any of this information explained or translated, please contact Liz Album, Head of EAL, school-wide at albuml@aisj.co.il  

 

What we think -Philosophy of EAL at AISJ

At the Anglican International School, Jerusalem, many of students are not native English speakers. Many of the adults in our community are multilingual. We celebrate our multilingual community, whilst making a firm commitment to supporting all our students who are working towards becoming fluent in English; we strive towards helping all our students become actively bilingual in their mother tongue(s) and English.  In order for this to occur, we believe that the mother tongue language needs to be developed and maintained,in parallel to the acquisition of English.  This enables the students to develop their academic, social and personal education, whilst they develop their English enough to participate in and gain rewards from an English medium curriculum.  

How you can help your child? – tips for parents 

*Speak your regular languages at home -We encourage families to continue to speak the mother tongue language/languages in the home.  Not only does this provide the most natural and direct communication in the home relationships, but it enables the students to maintain their mother tongue fluency. It is important for the student to relax at home with the family; students should be exposed to mother tongue literature/stories, games and movies.  All the pressures and demands of operation in English should not be extended to the home. The added advantage of this is it will allow practice and development of mother tongue language. With older students,  we also recommend continuing the reading and writing skills in the mother tongue.  

*Bring a dictionary -Students who can already read and write in their mother tongue need to bring to school an English-mother tongue dictionary every day. Older students can be allowed to do research for projects in their mother tongue, if they choose.  This will allow them to develop all skills of research at an age appropriate level.  After the research is complete they can write the information out in simpler English, with assistance, but at least the research stage and understanding of the material will be at the appropriate higher level.  

*Know that we understand -Reassure your children that many students arrived at AISJ with little or no English and all in our community, adults and students know that their level of English does not reflect their level of ability and does not reflect their functioning in their mother tongue. 

*Talk to us- Be in contact with us whenever you feel it necessary.  We are in total partnership with you and your children.  We are all committed to make their transition into AISJ smooth and their time with us fulfilling, productive and enjoyable.    

Starting at AISJ -Admissions procedure for EAL students

In the admissions pack you will find all the forms you need to fill in and a language survey.  Please fill this in as accurately as you can for each student.  This will give the school important information as we work out how to best fill the needs of each student.   

You will be invited to interview with the Head of Secondary or the Head of Elementary, as appropriate.  In these interviews they will decide at what stage your child will be interviewed/assessed by the Head of EAL.  All new EAL students will meet with the Head of EAL, but for many students, especially younger ones, this may be after they start at the school.   

In the case of local EAL students, applications need to be submitted before May 1^st in order to apply to start school in the following August.    

With International Students we ask you give us as much notice as possible, but we appreciate that there are unknown and last minute factors in relocating a family, so we do consider applications later than this date, for International students.  

All new EAL students will be given age appropriate assessment.  This along with the interviews and the language surveys will be used to make an individual EAL package for each EAL student. In all cases programmes are flexible.  It is desirable that the needs of the students change as students become less dependent on the EAL support over the year. It is possible to make changes in the course of the year as to the type or intensivity of  your child’s EAL provision.  Every change in EAL provision will be supported by assessments.   

EAL in the Elementary school (pre K-Grade 5)  

We will assess your child’s needs and then place them in one, or a combination of, the following EAL programmes:   

 *In class support from a classroom assistant

   *Intensive EAL support in small EAL groups out side of the class

    *Individual EAL tuition outside of the class for a few hours a day

    *Enrichment EAL support either in or out of the class.

    *Remaining in class all day, but going to literacy lessons with another class

There is provision for Grade 4 and 5 to learn a foreign language.  EAL students will be given extra English classes during this period.   

Secondary School

Grades 6-10 (Middle Years Program)  

All MYP students are required to take two languages.  All students who will benefit from intensive EAL support will elect to do Mother Tongue Language A study program. The mother tongue program is organised by the Coordinator of Non English Languages, Mrs. Roxanna Marks, who can be contacted marksr@aisj.co.il.   The student will then be free to join the intensive EAL program where they will receive individual programs of support in the framework of a small group.  The support will be designed to give the students the English Language skills they need to thrive socially and academically at AISJ and be to able to enjoy and access the MYP curriculum.  In addition to the EAL intensive support, the students will also go to the Grade level English, where the English teacher will also build on their skills.   

When students do not need the intensive EAL, they can join the Enrichment EAL programme.  Students will then be supported in the context of their MYP class work, either in or out of the classroom.  The support will be focused on completing the task set in the context of the class and MYP curriculum.   

 Grades 11 and 12  

Only in exceptional circumstances will students of high EAL need be accepted into AISJ at this late stage. All student at this level are required to take two languages. EAL Students in Grade 11 and 12 will have the opportunity to study English as a Language B. They will then take Language A in a language which they are fluent in, administered by the Coordinator of Non English Languages, Mrs Roxanna Marks, marksr@aisj.co.il  The Language B English class will enable students to take full advantage of the IB School Diploma Programme or the School Certificate Program, which ever one is selected as an appropriate track.   

Further Information   

For further information and any other questions or concerns please contact the Head of EAL, school wide, Mrs. Liz Album  albuml@aisj.co.il