EAL

The English as an Additional Language Program (EAL) at The Dwight School is designed to help our international students adjust while learning English and learning in English. We call the program EAL rather than the ESL term commonly used because, for many of our students at Dwight, English is not a second language but a third, as most have lived in several countries and speak a few languages.

Students in our program are tested at the beginning of the school term and then placed in the appropriate level. Our classes are small, often one on one tutorials. It is a total immersion program as well, as the students are also enrolled in regular subject classes. The EAL instructor works closely with classroom teachers and staff.

The EAL teacher has the task of helping students learn oral, written, and reading skills as well as academic language. The director of the program works closely with the academic teachers to help the international students with their class work as well as their learning of English.

Our philosophy at Dwight is that language is learned holistically. Language acquisition is a process that includes listening, speaking, reading and writing. These skills are interrelated and mutually supportive. We also firmly believe in the continued study of mother tongue languages.