Pilot

The WLI EAL Pilot Program has launched into this exciting work at two “Catalyst Schools” in China: International School of Dongguan and Nansha College Preparatory Academy.

The program is using research-based, “high-challenge, high-support” EAL programs and curriculum to enable English learners' acquisition of full-academic English proficiency for achievement in K-12 English-language programs. Each school serves different demographics: 100% host nationals who share the same primary language and are all English language learners, and a mixed international student body with some students for whom English is their primary language.

It will result in effective EAL program frameworks, responsive EAL assessments and instructional tools embedded into ISS-generated curriculum documents, and professional development opportunities for administrators and teachers.

Specifically, the Pilot Program will:

• Provide a needs assessment of the professional development priorities for instructional leaders of EAL programs
• Delineate and refine evaluation practices for screening and monitoring English learners' progress and proficiency
• Embed EAL-best practices into ISS curriculum design, instruction, assessment, grading and reporting through 'mentor units'
• Support ISS leaders and school administrators in their understanding of second language acquisition processes and products through planned professional development
• Support ISS EAL leaders and teachers to co-plan through planned professional development and ongoing coaching
  • Content-based EAL instructional units and lessons to include the identification of specific language objectives
  • Formative assessments with descriptions of progressive levels of spoken and written academic English by designated proficiency and text types (i.e. narrative, expository, argument, report)
  • Responsive instructional strategies for scaffolding and differentiating instruction for progressive levels of English-language proficiency
• Support English learners' acquisition of full oral and written proficiency in the use of academic English, including all linguistic functions (i.e. explaining, comparing/ contrasting, presenting an argument) as responses to content area curriculum expectations through teacher protocols for co-reflecting on English learners' language performances and mastery of content knowledge and skills and through student self-assessments.

The Pilot Program was designed by ISS consultant Dr. Gini Rojas, and is supported by ISS Curriculum Directors Barbara Parker and Bridget Doogan, and Bruce McWilliams and Lila Leung - ISS VPs for the Middle East and Asian Pacific Regions, respectively.

We are honored and proud to sponsor this work, which we believe requires new and bold thinking about EAL. Visit this section again soon to learn about exciting updates in the Catalyst Schools.