Non-native English speakers can transfer directly to LAS from abroad and continue their high school studies without the need for an ESL preparation year.

How? With the development of the four basic language domains:

• Reading skills
• Writing competency
• Listening comprehension
• Conversational fluency

At LAS this is achieved through—

Sheltered immersion, content-integrated learning

ESL students study with native speakers from the start for mathematics, arts and physical education. This encourages students to share cultural backgrounds and international understanding. In the sheltered-immersion model, language and content learning are integrated to promote the mastery of English language skills, and language development and content-area knowledge are primary objectives. Students strengthen English language proficiency to excel in academic classes that require a high degree of English ability.

Mother tongue support

LAS encourages continued development of skills in the students’ mother tongues through the International Baccalaureate Language Self-Taught Program, as well as through our International Collection, which contains reading material in 23 different languages. This helps to maintain academic and cognitive engagement in their mother tongues.

As an ESL student's proficiency improves, he/she will join mainstream and IB courses.

Features of the ESL Program

More than 50 percent of LAS students are or have been in the ESL program. This ensures that all students will have the necessary level of English when they enter the mainstream program. ESL courses emphasize continual acquisition of academic language skills, with three courses that include study in both language and content.

ESL students:

• Come from 50+ countries
• Follow a sheltered-immersion program balancing language study with content study
• Focus on the four basic skills of writing competency, reading/literacy, listening comprehension and speaking
• Gain a sense of international understanding and share their cultural backgrounds and languages
• Are immersed with native speakers in mainstream courses in physical education, mathematics and arts/music, as well as in after-class activities and travel
• Are placed using the Secondary Level English Proficiency (SLEP) test and must take TOEFL or IELTS to graduate
• Are assigned rooms in residence halls with students of a different language background, thus, requiring English language communication