We offer a research based, highly effective English as an additional language (EAL) program for those students who may be new to learning in English or continue to need English language support.
English is the language of instruction at YIS. The main purpose of the EAL program is to support language development so that the student may build social and academic language that is needed to learn within our IB curriculum. Students receive specifically designed instruction that is focused on developing the four language domains: speaking, writing, listening and reading.
We believe that learning and language are interconnected, and that learning best takes place in authentic contexts within a caring environment. We strive to create a learning environment that fosters language development through oral engagements, vocabulary expansion, and a focus on reading and writing skills. By integrating learning and language across the curriculum, we ensure that students develop lifelong skills with strong linguistic foundations. Since all YIS teachers are considered language teachers, regardless of subject area, this enables students to be supported throughout the curriculum in their language development.
All students in the EAL program are closely monitored and tracked in order to ensure language proficiency progression. We use WIDA Language Proficiency, which “ advances academic language development and academic achievement for linguistically diverse students through high quality standards, assessments, research, and uses educationally authentic measurement to assess and evaluate each student’s English language proficiency development.”
EAL Support Overview
ELC - Kindergarten
- Students are fully immersed in the language of their classroom, English. We recognize that young learners often learn best through natural, social engagements. The ELC and kindergarten programs provide students who are new to English with the most beneficial type of language learning experience, play.
Grades 1 - 5 (PYP)
- In grades 1-5, those students who are new to learning in English may attend a specialized EAL class that is held in place of the Japanese language class.
Grades 6 - 9 (MYP) English Language Acquisition
- English Language Acquisition caters to students who speak English as an additional language and would benefit from improving their English Language Skills.