Advanced Level EAL: Building the Foundation for Academic Success
The Advanced EAL program at Luther College High School is designed for students at the CEFR B2 level (IELTS 6, TOEFL 84). This program focuses on equipping students with the academic skills needed to thrive both at Luther and in their future educational pursuits. The Advanced class is rigorous, preparing students to succeed in regular high school courses.
Graduating from the Advanced Program: To graduate from the Advanced EAL program, students must:
- Maintain a 75% Average: Students need to achieve a 75% average in their EAL classes.
- Meet CEFR Standards: Students must also meet the CEFR B2/C1 benchmarks as the goal for their assessments.
Advanced EAL Classes: Students in the Advanced class will take three specialized EAL courses in addition to a larger selection of Grade 9 classes. The program uses a variety of strategies to strengthen the academic language necessary for success at Luther and beyond. This includes a strong emphasis on reflection, team and individual writing, daily journals, critical thinking, and research methods. The curriculum is carefully planned to scaffold academic skills effectively throughout the semester.
- Main Class: The daily main class focuses on developing note-taking and course management skills before moving into more complex areas like English literature, presentations, and research. Students learn to read closely, reflect, and analyze content, leading to in-depth writing assignments that adhere to academic writing conventions.
- Writing Class: Held every second day, this class emphasizes key writing skills, including paragraph and essay structure, quotations and citations, organization, and reflection. Daily writing exercises help expand vocabulary and deepen writing abilities.
- Language Coaching: Students meet with their personalized language coach every second day. These sessions are divided between student-led and teacher-led days. On student-led days, students bring questions from their classes, helping them develop responsibility and autonomy in learning. Teacher-led days focus on tailored lessons that address specific needs, such as writing techniques, conversation skills, and grammatical issues. Coaches also work to build relationships with students, helping them navigate Canadian culture and the Luther community.
Additional Classes: Students in the Advanced EAL program typically take only one Humanities course, such as English 9, to manage the workload. This allows them to experience the expectations of Luther’s Humanities classes without being overwhelmed. In addition, Advanced students may start participating in Math and Science classes, where reading and writing demands are higher. They are also encouraged to take credit classes in wellness, health, art, music, choir, and drama.