Class Levels - Secondary School EAL

Three levels

Intensive: This class is designed for students with little or no prior knowledge of English.

(A1-A2 levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages - CEFR)

Intermediate: This class is designed for students who have

  • exited the Intensive class after one year or two
  • or have received an equivalent amount of EAL instruction in their previous school and whose placement test show that they can cope with the demands of this class. (at least B1 level of the CEFR)

Transition: This class is designed for students who have

  • usually completed at least one year in the Intermediate class
  • or have received an equivalent amount of EAL instruction in their previous school and whose placement test show that they can cope with the demands of this class.
  • Students in this class must be ready to read and write extensively. (at least B2 level of the CEFR)

Placement test

All new students who may need EAL support are tested when they first join ISH.
1- The student has a 15-minute interview with an EAL teacher. This informal conversation will give the teacher a chance to know more about the student and assess their speaking skills.
2- The student is asked to write a short composition.
3- The student may also be required to take an online placement test. Details are provided as required.
The student and their family are informed shortly after of the class in which the student has been placed.

Moving up and exiting the EAL programme

During the course of each semester, EAL teachers regularly review their students’ progress. Students whose work meets the required standards may move to the next EAL level or to mainstream classes including mainstream English. Once a student has exited the EAL programme, they will have the possibility to study an additional language such as French or Spanish.