Page 29 - StudyTravel Magazine November 2018 Issue

SECONDARY FOCUS studytravel magaZIne november 2018

that they offer an elicos-accredited high School “We offer eLL academic content courses such as eLL
preparation programme, which is between 10 and 40 english, Social Studies, and Science,” says mark. “We
weeks long. “It’s like a university prep. course for high began these about 15 years and we offer these to
school,” says michael. meanwhile in the uSA, Anna students with low/intermediate english levels so that
Irby from capistrano christian Valley School www. they can learn content area vocabulary. these courses
cvcs.org in San Juan capistrano, cA, says that they are offered as full credit courses so they are the same
don’t offer a high school preparation class specifi cally, length as any other high school course, which is one
but do offer three classes – english, bible and uS semester or one year depending on whether the
history – using the SDIAe method (Specially Designed students are attending a semester or linear school.”
Academic Instruction in english), which international For some schools, their preparation provision
students can take in their fi rst year. Anna explains, consists of a summer programme that can be taken in
“In the past, we offered eSL coursework, but we the preceding weeks before an international student
found that it did not fully allow students to acquire the starts at the school. Simon powell at Box hill School
needed credits for college acceptance, and there was www.boxhillschool.org.uk in Dorking in the uk, says
a stigma attached to taking eSL, so many international that they started offering pre-sessional courses for
students refused to have it on their transcript. We their international students 10 years ago. “the course
discovered the SDAIe method of teaching which is two weeks immediately prior to the start of the
allows us to continue to teach the needed courses, academic year so that it provides a seamless transition
still have the university of california approval, and give from academic preparation to mainstream study,”
the students a different way to learn material that is he says. “the course is split into three groups – pre-
typically very diffi cult during their fi rst year.” GcSe, GcSe and sixth form entrants – and each
Anna also emphasises the importance of group follows lessons in english, the Sciences, maths,
responding to the needs of their international student Business/economics (humanities for pre-GcSe). the
intakes. “We are always looking to do what is most emphasis is on developing technical language in the
helpful in order to give our international students the specifi c subjects and its application.”
tools they need for success,” she says. “If another Similarly, Joanne tracy carruthers from Stanstead
method comes along that we deem effective, we college www.stansteadcollege.com in Stanstead,
will research and make the switch. the needs of the Qc, canada says that their international students are
international student in American education are in encouraged to take their four-week summer activ-
constant fl ux, and we believe strongly that we must ity programme, which was established “to provide
be ready to adapt as needed.” students with the opportunity to experience boarding,
mark Leiper at Langley School District #35 www. and to improve their english or French”, before start-
studyinlangley.com in Langley, Bc, canada says that ing at the school in September. Joanne adds, “most
their school also has specifi c courses designed to help summer school students just come for the four-week
international students keep up with their language programme but many opt to apply afterwards.”
and academic skills, alongside mainstream classes. bethan@studytravel.network

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