Woodlands Academy offers an English as a second language program to meet the individual needs of our international students. Students recently enrolled in the program have come from South Korea, Thailand, China, and Mexico. The ESL program focuses on teaching the communication skills necessary to function appropriately and successfully in both academic and social situations at our school. The course is divided into two levels - a beginning to intermediate class and a high intermediate to advanced class. Skills taught include: speaking, listening, reading, writing and grammar, plus learning strategies and the exchange of cultural ideas.
The Woodlands Academy International Student Program is under the direction of Elisa Mascorro. Students are placed according to their level of English ability which is determined by an English language placement test (The College Board SLEP). International students are mainstreamed as much as possible in all other classes based on the test results including mathematics, literature, history, science, religion, fine arts and physical education.
The International students who come to Woodlands do so for one of three reasons:
- They come looking for a school which values and accepts their cultural diversity.
- They come to improve their English or to experience American culture for one year and then return to school in their native country.
- They come to study in the American educational system and intend to graduate from Woodlands and enter an American university.
