High School English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) Program

International School Manila provides an English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) program for Grade 9 and 10 students who need specialized support in their language acquisition.   We ensure authentic language experiences in appropriate individualized learning environments so that students develop language proficiency and learner autonomy for social and academic success.  Our program provides inclusion support in the language-rich classes of English, Geography, History and Science as well as specialized language instruction in our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) classes.  This approach integrates both language and content, which is an effective way to develop language proficiency.  

ESL Inclusion Support

Research has shown that language learning is greatly enhanced by meaningful use in authentic learning environments. At ISM our inclusive program ensures that ESL students have full access to the mainstream curriculum as well as daily interactions with their English-speaking peers.  In this inclusive model of teaching and learning, language specialists work alongside content specialists to deliver a curriculum that is accessible to all language learners. As a result individual needs are accommodated and students feel comfortable taking risks.
 
Some of the observable benefits of the Inclusion Support program include:

• Students are exposed to wide range of language models from peer groups
• Students develop a greater sense of connectedness to their grade-level peers
• Students are motivated to practice and develop language skills to meet curriculum standards
• Promotes high levels of achievement
• Students receive individualized and specialized support that matches their language and academic needs

Intermediate and Advanced level students are provided with specialized support designed to maximize their potential language development. The EAP classes focus on reading and writing strategies, vocabulary enrichment, language skill development using topics and tasks similar to the mainstream classes, and provide support with work in other subject areas.

We offer two year-long options, an Intermediate and Advanced program. Intermediate ESL students have two ESL classes to support their language acquisition.  Students are mainstreamed for all of the classes excluding English and Modern Language.  They receive in-class support from an ESL specialist in History, Geography and Science.

Advanced ESL students are enrolled in an EAP class and receive in-class support from an ESL specialist in the English, Science, History, and Geography classes.  They attend all mainstream classes except for Modern Language.