English as an Additional Language provision serves students whose first language is not English. Programmes vary from full immersion-only support through to dedicated EAL teachers running parallel classes. Quality varies widely.
What EAL covers
English as an Additional Language provision serves students whose first language is not English. Programmes vary from full immersion-only support through to dedicated EAL teachers running parallel classes. Quality varies widely.
What good looks like
A dedicated EAL coordinator, in-class support during mainstream lessons, a clear assessment framework (e.g. WIDA or comparable), and a transparent progression from EAL into mainstream classes. Most good international schools have all four.
Costs
Some schools include EAL in standard tuition. Others charge a per-term EAL fee, typically USD 1,500 to 4,000 per year. Verify the cost structure as part of the admissions conversation.
How to evaluate
Ask: what is your EAL student-to-teacher ratio? What is the average time to mainstream classes for new EAL students? Can we see a sample EAL learning plan? Do you have published outcomes for EAL leavers?