English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The primary function of the EAL department (English as an Additional Language) at BSB is to provide the necessary English support to help students with a low level of English integrate quickly and easily into an English language environment. We have an EAL Program with a team of professionally qualified, experienced EAL teachers to ensure that our students obtain all the English support they need in order to enjoy their time here at BSB and to find success with their studies.
Lessons at BSB are conducted in English, and as such it is necessary that students possess a minimum level of English proficiency for each year group:
All students attending BSB are assessed to ensure that they possess this minimum level of English. Students currently assessed below the minimum level of English will be offered up to 5 hours EAL support in small groups within the normal student timetable.
The focus at elementary level is on oral skills, listening and speaking, to help the students to understand what is going on in the classroom and to form friendships with other students.
As students become more confident users of English, the EAL focus shifts to reading and increasingly to writing, which are the focus areas at intermediate/ upper-intermediate level.
Students are also encouraged to make use the CAL (Computer Aided Learning) facilities at BSB, as we have three computer labs and sets of classroom laptops, all equipped with EAL programs which students can use to improve their English.
