Overview

At The New School we take pride in the diversity of our student body. Roughly one quarter of our students are from other countries, including but not limited to UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Colombia, South Korea, China, Vietnam, Japan, Kuwait, and Cambodia. All classes are taught in English, giving international students a total immersion experience. We encourage them to speak English throughout the day as well as outside of school, as continuous practice is the key to truly learning a language.

ESOL Program

The ESOL Program at The New School is designed for international students who would like to improve their English proficiency. In order to develop their linguistic skills in a safe, comfortable environment, international students are allowed to take special classes in English, and gain foreign language or English credit in the process. There are two essential components of the ESOL Program: (1) a series of multidisciplinary classes; and (2) a one- to two-year reading and writing class, depending on the student’s progress in the first year. Students pay the ESOL fee for each year they remain in the program.

The series of multidisciplinary classes are designed to build the students’ academic English skills. The yearlong reading and writing course is designed as an advanced foreign language course in English. The teacher selects short novels and articles appropriate to student reading levels. Students study vocabulary, discuss the subjects in English, and write formal essays. Students are given regular English-language tests and taught the essentials of academic writing.

Students leave the ESOL program when they can think critically and participate in class comfortably in English.