ESL

English as a Second Language (ESL)

In a typical year, Grier welcomes students from 15 or more foreign countries. Grier has developed an intensive and comprehensive ESL program which works with other academic departments to meet the needs of those students. All students in ESL participate fully in math, science, social studies, the fine arts, physical education and extracurricular offerings available at Grier. Cross-cultural guidance is offered by the teachers as an integral part of the program.

Four levels of English are taught by ESL teachers. Listening, reading, and writing skills are emphasized at all levels. ESL students are incorporated into mainstreamed academic classes as soon as language proficiency warrants.

Participation in the English as a Second Language Program involves an additional fee per year.

Courses

List of 4 items.

ESL I

The purpose of this two-semester course is to help beginning learners acquire solid basic knowledge of American culture and language through the following skills: listening comprehension, reading comprehension, writing, and speaking. The focus is placed on vocabulary and grammar pertaining to everyday English. Throughout the year, the students complete additional activities with material from other books. They also watch movies which serve as a basis for discussion.
ESL II

The purpose of this two-semester course is to help students become independent and competent users of the English language. This course develops the students’ knowledge of American and English culture, and develops their knowledge of the English language through the following skills: listening comprehension, reading comprehension, writing, and speaking, with an introduction to the TOEFL® test. Throughout the year, the students do additional activities with material from other books. They also watch movies that serve as a basis for discussion or a written assignment. They will also read at least three unabridged novels.
ESL III

ESL III is a two-semester course designed to provide high intermediate high school students with an intensive review of the materials covered in level I and II, and to expand the language skills acquired thus far. Throughout the year, the students do additional activities with material from other books. They also watch movies that serve as a basis for discussion or a written assignment. They will also read at least three unabridged novels. A special focus will also be put on the practice of the TOEFL® test and its particular requirements.
ESL IV

The ESL IV course is a two-semester course designed to provide advanced high school students with the necessary skills to function in a regular English class. Students will practice expressing their thoughts naturally and effectively. They will study from unabridged texts out of regular English high school textbooks. They will read two to three unabridged works of literature. A special focus will also be put on the practice of the TOEFL® test and its particular requirements.

ESL Placement Policy

Students will take a placement test and will be placed in the appropriate ESL levels.

Placement with TOEFL® Test Scores

In order for an international student to join a regular English class, the Grier School requires a minimum score of 68/120. Students whose score is below 68 will participate in the ESL program. While most students with qualifying scores will transition to mainstream English classes at the start of a new semester, 11^th & 12th-grade students with scores of 68+ and 9^th & 10th-grade students with scores of 80+ will transition at marking periods. Since ETS does not release scores that are older than two years, Grier School does not accept scores that are older than two years.

TOEFL® Test Center Policy

Who must register

Seniors must take the TOEFL® test at least once during the first semester
Juniors must take the TOEFL® test at least once during their junior year

Considerations

Candidate registration is based on the students’ needs.
Priority is given to seniors first semester and juniors second semester.
The school requires at least seven candidates to run and administer a test.

How to register
The sign-up sheet is available two weeks before the test in Mrs. Hallahan’s room in the Main Building. Designated sign-up end dates are posted on the bulletin board outside Mrs. Hallahan’s office, and are posted on the daily morning announcement sent to students via email. If you have never taken the TOEFL® test in the USA before, you will create a TOEFL® test profile on the computer with Mrs. Hallahan.

TOEFL® Testing Facility

The Grier School has been an accredited ETS test center for the TOEFL® test since 2007 when Marie Shaffer founded the test center. The candidates here are all exclusively Grier students. Olivia Hallahan (manager and test center administrator), Kallie Brubaker (test administrator), Natalie Ondrey (test administrator), and Madeline Drexler (test administrator) administer up to 16 test sessions between September and May. The test center is re-certified each year.

Familiar and reassuring testing conditions:

The Grier School offers the TOEFL® test to its students exclusively (no outside candidates);
Students simply walk from their dorm to the room where the test is taking place;
The test center staff is composed of Grier teachers.

Faculty

List of 1 members.

Joanna Kimball

Grier School

North Cottage’s ground floor is home to the ESL Department and TOEFL® Test Center.

Fall Student Visas
7/9/2020
UPDATE as of 7/14/2020: Grier School celebrates the reversal of policy that would affect the visa status of international students. As a result of this reversal, student visas currently in active status will NOT be suspended. Grier will continue to work with students and families through this challenging time.
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ESL Students Practice Kitchen Communication
5/22/2018
After completing a unit on foods and measurements, during which their ESL teacher Mrs. Silverman challenged the students to transcribe a favorite recipe in English with Imperial units, the students made their recipes in their teacher's kitchen. While Mrs. Silverman could not recall the names of the specific dishes, she noted that they were delcious.
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