EAL – English as an additional language

EAL (English as an Additional Language)

The EAL programme at Riccarton High School is comprehensive. It creates a pathway from Years 9 – 13 and ranges from Intensive EAL to English for Academic Purposes for tertiary study.

International students do not need a minimum English language level to enrol at Riccarton High School. Our Intensive EAL class caters for beginners with 12 hours of class time a week.

As students’ English language levels increase, their EAL class time is reduced and replaced with other school subjects. An advanced EAL learner may only take four hours per week of a high-level EAL class, such as English for Academic Purposes.

The programme aims to strengthen student English Language acquisition so that students can experience success in all subjects.

There is also a strong emphasis on the maintenance and development of bi/multilingualism and literacy as a key contributing factor to academic achievement.