| | | | | | | | | |  | Shiela Kingston EFL & Mod Language Teacher | | | Sutton Park School offers an EFL Department which supports students whose first language is not English. Students are supported from the Junior School, through the Intermediate School and throughout the Senior School. Within the Senior School, depending on the student’s level of English, they have the option of three different programmes to follow. These programmes are set according to their proficiency in the language and involve a set course of General English, with the option to study for an exam. The General English teaching is tailored to the class level and involves all four aspects of language learning including Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. Throughout the year the students are assessed within the school but if an officially recognised qualification is required these must be paid for by the students themselves.
The exams Sutton Park prepares the students for are:
FCE: This is an ideal exam for Intermediate/Upper-Intermediate students who want an officially recognised qualification in English, which is valid for life
IELTS: This is an internationally recognised qualification for those Upper-Intermediate students who want to enrol in universities or other higher educational institutions in an English speaking country.
TOEFL: This is the most widely renowned English language test in the world enabling Upper-Intermediate students acceptance into university.
Rationale Sutton Park School is an International School and as such there is a responsibility to assist children who cannot understand and join in the activities that surround them. It is vitally important that they experience an environment in which they can grow.
The EFL program can provide a strong basis for the growth of confidence through environment, familiar patterns and feedback.
Vision/Aims All International Students at Sutton Park School are able to fully participate in the programs that the school offers.
Curriculum Content The EFL curriculum is based on the students’ current needs and level of English rather than being aligned with a stage in the schooling cycle.
The curriculum aims to develop: Speaking Listening Reading Writing
In all the aspects above, emphasis is placed on helping the student focus on the linguistic form of grammar and move away from the grammatical properties of their first language.
Once a high level of English is reached, students are helped to focus on preparing for the IELTS examinations.
Approaches and Methodologies Generally a communicative language teaching approach is used, translation between the students’ natural language and English is discouraged.
Cross-curricular Links English will be an inherent part of the teaching of all other subjects and activities within the school. Additionally, EFL students will focus on academic reading and writing which will be a foundation for many other subjects.
Homework Senior school students are given regular homework to facilitate their development in English as a second language and to help them prepare for IELTS certification.
Resources Integrate Ireland Language and Training materials IELTS practice materials ICT resources
ICT ICT is utilised, as many online learning resources are available.
Planning and Reporting A scheme of work is created at the start of the academic year and revised periodically based on the progress of the group.
Individual lesson plans are created for each 4th and 5th year lesson and evaluated as to their success.
| | | | | | | | | All content © 2010 Sutton Park School tel: +353 (0)1 832 2940 For more information on how to contact Sutton Park School, click here. All rights reserved.
| | | | | |
|