Secondary School EAL Programmes

What level of English do students need to be at to be successful? 

What is the EAL program goal?  

Regents uses the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) to measure a student's language levels. These levels are used by organizations such as the IGCSE and IB to determine whether students will be successful. 

The CEFR has 7 levels: A0 (pre- A1), A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2 

• The rate of language learning depends on language levels in home language, intensity of study, age, amount of study/exposure, and motivation.  

• The Regents EAL program goal is for secondary students reach B2 within 9 terms. 

For success in the secondary classroom, students need to be at least B2 level.  

B2 students can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialization. They can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. Students can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.