The International School of Myanmar provides English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) to non-native speakers of English in grades 1-9. All students applying for admission to ISM are screened to assess needs for English support. If Admissions screening determines that a student may need ESOL support, then a full English Assessment (WIDA) is administered to determine the specific level of ESOL support required.
The main objective of the ESOL program is to prepare students for entry into the mainstream level of ISM’s regular academic program by fully developing English skills in the areas of reading, writing, speaking, and listening. This is obtained by using different instructional materials catered to the student’s grade level and developmental needs.
The Elementary School ESOL program (Grades KG-5) focuses on developing both social and academic language skills and uses a combination of support models, tailored to the students’ needs. The program emphasizes that young children learn best when immersed in a language-rich environment and through play with their peers. Instruction combines small-group pull-out support with in-class co-teaching (push-in). Advanced students typically receive only in-class support.
Special effort is made to challenge students who excel in reading and writing, as well as to scaffold support for students who need it. Techniques to support and boost ESOL students are integrated into all aspects of curriculum lessons.
Our aim is for all students to develop their fluency, accuracy, and confidence in English so they can succeed not only at ISM but at any university they choose to attend after graduation.
The High School offers ESOL support to grade 9 students; each ESOL student is scheduled to work with the ESOL specialist during Intensive Academic English class within the daily timetable. Current best educational practice believes that ESOL students benefit most from being immersed within the common curriculum with additional support outside of it. To promote this push-in /pullout program, all of our ESOL students are also placed within mainstream classes, where they are part of the whole.
Students are ‘exited’ from the ESOL program and no longer required to take IAE classes when they have achieved satisfactory results on the WIDA exam and receive the endorsement of the ESOL teacher.
