Learning English

Learning English

by Cinnie Wappel
Director of International Programs
Solebury School, New Hope, Pennsylvania

Choosing a secondary school and an ESL program may be one of the most important decisions you make in your lifetime. The following steps should be helpful in the selection process:

Step 1: Do you need an ESL program?

Most applicants to US schools have had exposure to the English language in terms of basic comprehension and grammar. However, that is often not enough, since colleges and universities look for a higher level of competency. Therefore you should look for an ESL program, unless you are proficient in the following areas.

You are able to read and comprehend most type of texts.
You have a high level of grammatical competence in writing and speaking
You are a confident communicator
You have a strong command of vocabulary and functional language
You can follow and comprehend lectures in academic areas

Step 2: How do you evaluate the programs you are considering?

An appropriate program for you may not be appropriate for someone else. There are certain elements that you should look for.

Rapid but efficient movement through an ESL program
Flexibility in course selections both in ESL and non-ESL
Content-based instruction as well as English classes
Examination of each student's strengths and weaknesses
Learning and implementing study skills
TOEFL preparation
The availability of tutoring sessions
Support in non-ESL classes
Motivated, well trained faculty who create a safe but competitive environment
Equal distribution of international students from different countries
School sponsored activities to help integration with American students

Step 3: What type of instruction is offered at boarding schools?

The classroom environment is what sets the tone and allows for international students to meet many challenges and be successful. Therefore it is important to find a program within the following guidelines:

ESL content courses modeled after mainstream courses
Focus on developing proficiency in oral and written communication
Integration of listening, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking
Individual tutorials for course content classes
Extensive range of classroom materials
Emphasis on skills required in mainstream academic course
Encouragement in expressing ideas and opinions openly
Development of cultural awareness
Enthusiastic, creative, and sensitive faculty

The Williston Northampton School in Massachusetts offers two levels of ESL (Intermediate and Advanced) which students take while studying mainstream courses in other subjects with Americans. The advanced course is more like "English for Internationals", for the class is taught just like a regular English course, with a focus on literature and essay writing; however, it enables students to become comfortable class participants and proficient writers before joining the Americans in standard English classes."

If a student requires ESL at The Gunnery in Washington, Connecticut, he or she must still take a full course load of "mainstream" classes (with U.S. students) in history, science and mathematics, in addition to ESL. The Gunnery's ESL class focuses on conversation, academic writing, note taking from lectures and fine-tuning points of grammar.

Once you have narrowed your choice to a few schools, you should begin the application procedure. Enrolling in an ESL program as early as possible, ideally in your 9th grade year, will allow you 2-3 years of intensive English instruction and at least one year of transition to mainstream courses before applying to a university. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to achieve English proficiency.

In addition, you must also keep in mind that universities rely heavily on TOEFL scores for their admission process. Therefore the longer you study in the U.S.A. and practice English in its natural environment, the better chance you have for achieving strong TOEFL results.

How do schools decide if you need an ESL program?

Most applications will ask you to submit several writing samples on specified topics, usually about yourself. It is important that these essays be your own work, no matter how awkward you think they are. They are a good indication of your writing skills and ability to express your thoughts.

Following the application, arrangements will probably be made to set up a telephone interview with an admissions director or ESL coordinator. They will ask you a variety of questions, some very simple, while others might be more complicated. It is important to listen carefully and ask for the question to be repeated if necessary. Try to speak in full sentences but be calm and natural.

Some schools might require you to take the SLEP Test (Secondary Level English Proficiency), the TOEFL Exam, or the SSAT in order to complete the admissions process, while other schools might just evaluate you on your interview, writing sample, academic transcript, and recommendations. In many cases the SLEP Test is used for placement in a program once a student has been accepted to the school. It is also important to understand that schools interpret the SLEP Test scores differently, according to the criteria of each level in their program. A particular score for one school might indicate a different level of ESL than for another.

Are Spring and Summer ESL programs advisable?

If you plan to complete your education in your native country, yet want to experience life in an American boarding school, then an ESL Summer program is for you. Even if you have already been accepted into a US boarding school for the full year, you should consider a summer program to give you an idea of what to expect.

Also available at some schools, including Solebury School, is a spring ESL program, mainly to accommodate those international students whose academic year in their native country ends in March, yet they will not begin their fall boarding school program until the following September.

To ensure a successful start to high school studies in the U.S.A., international students may participate in a "bridge" program. These students can receive the intensive ESL and cultural training that allows them to jump right in to academic studies at a private U.S. high school. In addition to the ESL/cultural adjustment training, students get a head start with the vocabulary of subject courses, such as, math, science, religion, and U.S. history.

Spring, Summer and "bridge" programs will give you the opportunity to get used to different teaching methods and understand the dynamics in an American classroom. Additionally you will be able to experience boarding school life and an introduction to the culture. Because most of the classes are non-credit courses, pressure from grades will be alleviated and more focus placed upon learning English. It will also help to ease culture shock and homesickness when the full year program begins. Even after one or two years in an ESL program, many students still strive to improve their language proficiency and enroll in ESL summer programs, which may offer mainstream content courses for credit, or just concentrate on improving English skills.

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