English Language Courses

Stuart Pollard: Director of Junior EFL

Specialised programmes for students seeking an English language school in London.

At the heart of International Community School are our English language students from the age of 3 - 17 years. Throughout the year our community provides, interest, energy, enthusiasm and motivation to a student body who wish to attend an English school for their long term education.

Our approach to teaching is best characterised by the view that learners of school age acquire a language best by extending their use of the language to those areas of content knowledge they are already familiar with. In this way progress in learning English goes hand in hand with learning new knowledge.

During the academic year students have the unique opportunity to learn in a real English language school context where they can also meet and participate in school activities with fluent speakers of English from our full curriculum programme.

During the summer, students enjoy making friends among the sixty different nationalities on our Summer English Language School programme every year. Specially designed programmes reflect the different stages of a student's academic and personal development to capture their interests and promote English language learning.

Students are welcome all through the year.

Foundation Course

INTRODUCTION

Foundation Course is ideal for students seeking an English Language School in London which can provide a motivating and focused programme designed to ‘fast track’ English as a Second Language (ESL) students into full curriculum study in a supportive environment. .

THE RATIONALE

Motivation – The programme rewards learners’ progress by promoting them into mainstream classes as they improve.

Focus – Learners follow a clear pathway from English Language Support through to Full Curriculum study.

Support – Learners receive support in key areas relating to Academic English including reading and writing skills and vocabulary related to key subject areas.

Strategy – Learners are trained in learner independence, research skills, negotiation, target setting, inquiry, self/peer correction and appraisal. These skills will facilitate a smooth integration from Foundation Course into the Full Curriculum, and will benefit learners throughout their academic lives.

THE LEARNER PROFILE

A typical Foundation Course learner could be a complete beginner to intermediate second language speaker who has difficulty with the challenges of academic study in the full curriculum. Often students are strong orally, but have difficulties in the following areas:

• Reading – Learners do not have the appropriate skills or technical language to decode text
• Writing – Learners lack the grammatical, lexical and contextual knowledge to be able to produce accurate, appropriate written work.
• Language – Learners have problems with accuracy and often make mistakes in written and spoken English.
• Vocabulary – Learners do not possess the appropriate technical language and terminology to be able to study Full Curriculum subjects.

THE TEACHING STAFF

Foundation Course English Teachers – EFL qualified with significant teaching experience of working with children. PGCE or equivalent preferred.

Foundation Course Subject Teachers – PGCE or equivalent qualification. Experience of working with ESL learners or an EFL qualification preferred.

THE PROGRAMME

The programme consists of a combination of the following elements:

• General English – Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening Skills, Grammar and Vocabulary.
• Academic English – Research, Reading, Writing and Presentation Skills.
• English Through Other Subjects – Vocabulary and Language Skills related to specific subject areas and elements of the curriculum (but not the WHOLE curriculum).
• Full Curriculum –When they are ready, students are integrated into a selection of Full Curriculum classes through an individual timetable.

THE PROGRAMME FEATURES

Our supportive and integrated approach to teaching and learning helps make this one the most effective programmes of its kind for any English language school in London.

• Exams - Learners are encouraged to take Cambridge English examinations in order to give them learning targets and an internationally recognised certificate.
• Weekly Testing – Gives learners motivation to revise what has been studied during the week. Furthermore, tests give teachers, students and parents a clear indication of progress.
• Tutorials - An opportunity for learner and teacher to discuss the school week and to set goals and targets for the week or term ahead.

THE ‘PATHWAY’

Students follow a ‘pathway’ through three levels of English before entering full curriculum classes.  A typically motivated learner will move through the Foundation Course programme and into full curriculum classes within one year of full time

OTHER Foundation Course SERVICES

English Skills Classes - These lessons are aimed at full curriculum students, and are taught by a Foundation Course teacher. The objective of these classes is to focus on students’ English skills in relation to academic study.

Discover London/ Academic Excursions

Academic excursions offer all students opportunities to develop socially, linguistically, culturally, and academically. The Foundation Course department may run academic excursions for its students, with language-focused lessons and activities.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

“I have been impressed by the dramatic progress made towards full access of the curriculum by focusing on key vocabulary and concepts”
S. A. – Academic Director, West London

“The subject classes are good, especially science and maths, so you are not shocked by new words”
Bander – Saudi Arabian student aged 15