The Concept of English as a Second Language in International Schools

The IGCSE schools in Delhi NCR admit children from different cultural backgrounds. Some of their students belong to the expatriate families residing in India. Their home country could be Russia, China, Philippines, Thailand, Spain or any other nation where English is a second language and may not be spoken or understood by majority of people. Accordingly, the curriculum of these IGCSE and IB Diploma institutions is planned to accommodate their requirements and help them emerge as true global citizens.

In particular English as a Second Language (ESL) programme in a Cambridge school in Delhi NCR aims to develop its students’ English skills and boost their confidence in everyday communication.

A beginner ESL Programme is provided to non-English speaking students in Classes 5 to 7. At this stage, the students have most of their lessons in the ESL classrooms. Teachers need to ensure that the students reach the required level of English that will subsequently enable them to manage the demands of the IGCSE and IB Diploma curriculum in higher classes.

When children start to learn English, they should first get over their anxieties about studying in a new school, learning a new language, and other unfamiliar aspects of studying with peers from different ethnicities.

It is important for them to relax and enjoy being in a multicultural environment. Teachers at a Cambridge school in Noida use a host of fun activities to provide new learners the basic course in English vocabulary. They organise games and role plays to develop the language skills and instil confidence in students to convey their thoughts in a new language. Emphasis is given to help them attain proficiency in all aspects – reading, speaking, listening and writing.

The pace of learning varies from child to child. They all have their individual strengths, capabilities and learning styles. Studies have shown that it can take four to eleven years for new students to acquire the same level of English standards as their native-speaking peers. Some of the factors that impact speed of learning are:

-Time spent in reading books – an important habit to learn any language

-Individual time spent on practising the language being learned

-Personal aptitude

-Learning approach

-Anxieties

-Knowledge already acquired in mother tongue

-Age – learners who begin early do have advantage over their older peers

-Similarity between languages – how different is the student’s mother tongue to English?

It is therefore not easy for teachers to predict how long will it take for a student to grasp the new language. Nonetheless, they take account of each child’s individual progress and make sure that all students keep moving up the learning curve. They also see that the children continue to practise and develop knowledge of their mother tongue.

Providing a wide range of experiences to students helps to further enrich their cultural heritage and learning experiences.

Want to know more about ELS and other aspects of IGCSE and IB Diploma schools? Visit Amity Global School, Noida, and talk to an academic coordinator.

Author bio - The Noida based campus of Amity Global School was established in the 2010 and has been helping young scholars imbibe the virtues of holistic education year after year. A disciplined approach to academics, sports and extra-curricular activities is the hallmark of the institution.

Michael harley is a writer at Search Engine.