The WLI EAL Program

The WLI is taking on the significant and important challenge of shifting language education policies and programs.

In the past, the perceived deficiencies of English learners in international schools led to a narrow focus on remediation through English-only or separate ESL programs. In fact, many schools still perceive EAL as a deficit program (versus one of enrichment). EAL students are often considered by teachers as problems that need to be solved or an extra imposition placed upon teachers who are already overloaded. In this context, EAL students are viewed as having a “deficit” that must be remediated. Therefore, administrators, parents, and teachers often associate English learners with special needs or remedial.

However, student body make-up is changing in international schools, and so are expectations. Trends in international education indicate that host country nationals form 80% of the student body in international schools. Their expectation is to achieve high school matriculation to support college entry in undergraduate programs in English medium universities. At the same time, they expect to maintain their mother tongue. Increasingly, the expectation is for international schools to provide programs in support of such additive bilingualism. Schools that ensure all learners have access to the fundamental element of learning (language), create a culture that embraces respect and inclusion- and we believe a competitive advantage in delivering outstanding, world-class education that meets the needs of 21st century learners.

The WLI EAL Pilot Program “Catalyst Schools” offer enriched approaches to curriculum design and instructional delivery that intertwine English-language development across all content areas. This holistic and comprehensive approach helps students learn to use language and literacy to master academic content, think creatively and critically, collaborate, and self-reflect. Moreover, EAL learners and families are welcomed, included and supported. Language learners feel respected for their dual or multi language achievements, and are fully supported in a system that is designed to enable their success across the curriculum.