EAL Booklet

EAL Department Booklet

HMC • CO-EDUCATIONAL • BOARDING & DAY • 13 -18

English as an additional language (EAL) This booklet is aimed at parents, prospective pupils and agents who are interested in learning more about the EAL Department at King’s Bruton. We offer flexible timetabling and successful teaching both to prepare for English language examinations and more general subject support. Your child will not be expected to cope with main stream subjects without extra support if it is needed.

As teachers of EAL we liaise closely with other subject teachers and pastoral staff to support all our international pupils. Our aim is for each pupil to feel confident and motivated and develop to reach their full potential. We teach the main Cambridge ESOL examinations, about which more information is included in this booklet, as well as giving specific subject support.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me. I’m always very happy when pupils and parents email/skype prior to coming to King’s. Email: ncc@kingsbruton.com and Skype: ncc@kingsbruton.com

www.kingsbruton.com

WHY attend EAL classes?

Our opinion is that every international pupil should leave King’s with an internationally recognised English language qualification appropriate to their level and age. Proof of linguistic ability in the form of a certificate of achievement will always be advantageous when applying for university or employment. If a subject teacher thinks a pupil needs extra support then a recommendation will be sent to parents requesting that the pupil attend EAL classes.

HOW will the lessons be taught?

Classes can be taught individually or in a small group. We recommend two classes a week.

We will develop your child’s strengths and work to eliminate their weaknesses.

Focus will be on the productive skills of speaking and writing and the receptive skills of listening and reading. In addition, every lesson will cover grammar points, vocabulary expansion and the elimination of pronunciation slips. Prep (homework) will be given and marked according to the criteria of the examination they will be sitting.

WHO will teach?

Ms Nicola Checketts, Head of Department, has been at King’s since 2014 and has been teaching EAL since 2000. Ms Checketts graduated in English Literature and Language and holds the diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Ms Checketts taught IELTS and the Cambridge Examination suite in the Italian State School system and was a Cambridge ESOL examiner at The British Council, Naples.

Ms Checketts is supported in the department by fully qualified and experienced TESOL teachers.

WHEN will the lessons take place?

The lessons will be timetabled during study periods or MFL (Modern Foreign Language) classes. Exceptionally, pupils will be withdrawn from Church attendance, PSHE or Games.

WHICH pupils are eligible?

All pupils who have the written permission of their parents to attend EAL classes are eligible.

All new overseas pupils entering the Sixth Form without a recognised English language qualification will attend IELTS Academic classes twice a week and can be entered for the examination from February onwards.

WHICH level?

All new overseas pupils are tested in their first week to measure their baseline entry level and examinations are allocated accordingly.

www.kingsbruton.com

WHICH examinations should we study?

We prepare students for the internationally recognised Cambridge Suite examinations, for the IGCSE English as a Second Language and the Cambridge IELTS.

5th Form

3rd Form Cambridge PET

4th Form

*1 year IGCSE ESL

One year Cambridge FCE

1 year IELTS General

1 or 2 year IGCSE ESL

6th Form IELTS **Academic Cambridge CAE Cambridge CPE

2 year GCSE ESL

*A ‘B’ at GCSE English as a Second Language Extended with the count-in oral is accepted at most British universities. **6.5 or above at IELTS in all four skills for top universities.

These examinations match the levels at which a child is expected to be at given their chronological age. Some pupils will be higher than their chronological age and we will select the examination appropriate to their level.

(However, IELTS Academic is not taken before Sixth Form due to the maturity needed to approach the subject matter and the two-year validity of the examination).

HOW LONG will the classes run?

Pupils preparing to take summer examinations will need to attend classes for the whole academic year. Pupils not intending to sit an examination but taking subject support classes can be run on a flexible basis.

HOW MANY pupils in a class?

We aim for our multi-lingual classes to be not over six pupils.

HOW MUCH will it cost?

Please see separate sheet and the fees page on the school website.

www.kingsbruton.com

Useful websites http://moodle.kingsbruton.com/ http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams/preliminary/ http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams/first/ http://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/choose

Anything else‌ Our pupils sit their examinations at the Cambridge Examinations in Taunton and at International House, Bristol. The IELTS is conducted at Bath University.

Please consult the website: www.ihbristol.com/exam/apply-now-dates-and-fees

King’s School, founded in 1519,

is a co-educational boarding

and day school situated in the

small Somerset town of Bruton

King’s School, Bruton Somerset BA10 0ED 01749 814200 office@kingsbruton.com www.kingsbruton.co.uk /KingsBruton @KingsBruton @KingsBruton Reg Charity No 1071997