NISC's ESL & Bridge

Many students of other languages come to NISC and may need extra help with their English skills. NISC provides the options of an ESL Bridge program for students with very little or no English language and the ESL program for students who have some English skills but require extra support.
*Students are tested upon admission to determine which program best meets their needs.

ESL program
The ESL program is designed to assist students with the academic English required in the mainstream classroom. Students may work in small groups with a trained ESL teacher or the ESL teacher may work alongside the student in the mainstream classroom.
ESL instruction is available for students from Grades 2 – 10.

The ESL Bridge Program
The ESL Bridge Program at NISC is an intensive English instruction program designed to assist limited or non-English speaking students from Grades 3-7 to develop to a sufficient level of proficiency in functional and academic English, whereby the student is able to transition into the ESL program in the mainstream classes.
-Admission to the Bridge or ESL programs is based on the student’s previous school records and entrance testing and assessment of their English levels.
-Students in the Bridge class benefit from teacher instruction in small groups or one-on-one instruction based on the student’s individual needs.
-The ESL Bridge curriculum is aligned to the mainstream classes and wider curriculum areas such as science and social studies are covered through the English class work. Students study Math at their appropriate Grade level.
-ESL Bridge students join in the ‘Specials’ classes of Music, Art, P.E. and Swimming with their peer grade level and can make friends and maintain social connectedness to their peer group.
-The Bridge teachers work collaboratively with the both the ESL teachers and with Elementary Grade and Middle Years class teachers to monitor Bridge student’s individual progress and needs throughout the school year.