Page 1

English Island Student Orientation

Page 2

Staff

  • Billy Satterwhite – Director
  • Eric Jan – Assistant School Director
  • Melina Mello – Office Manager
  • Mari & Tici – Student Support & Services
  • Andrea Alexander  – Director of Curriculum & Instruction
  • Ricky – PDSO / Gloria – DSO
  • Amanda - Lead Teacher
  • Tici, Beth, Eric – Registrar Team
  • Beth – Admissions
  • Tighearnan – Admin Assistant

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Teaching Method

  • Integrated skills classes
    • Speaking, listening, reading, writing
  • Communicative
    • Focused on student speaking
  • Task-based
    • Using English to do things like purchase food at a restaurant or return an item to the store

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Placement

  • TEI Speaking Test and Ventures/Keynote Written Test
  • Basic Literacy (1A-1B)
  • Low Beginning (2A-2B)
  • High Beginning (3A-3B)
  • Low Intermediate (4A-4B)
  • High Intermediate (5A-5B)
  • Advanced B2 (6A-6B)
  • Advanced C1 (7A-7B)
  • Advanced C2 (8A-8B)

Based on the The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Students who meet certain requirements are eligible to take IELTS and TOEFL prep classes. For more information, speak with Administration.

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Class Schedule

  • Terms are 6 weeks long. Every 6 weeks, you take a test to move up to the next level.
  • 1 general class (12 hours)
  • 2 specialty classes (3 hours each)
    • Grammar
    • Conversation
    • Pronunciation
    • Reading
    • Vocabulary (Phrasal Verbs, Academic Vocabulary)

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Academic Calendar

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  • The grade for this course consists of the following elements:
    • General Class
      • 40% Weekly quizzes
      • 20% Midterm
      • 40% Final
    • Specialty Classes
      • 40% Midterm
      • 60% Final
  • To move to the next level, you must have an overall average of 75 each term.
  • If you make lower than 75, you have failed the level and must take it again. If you continue to fail classes, you can be dismissed from our program.
  • You will get a grade report every 3 weeks to see your progress.
  • You will meet with your teacher every 6 weeks to discuss your academic progress.

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Graduation

  • Non F-1 Visa Students
    • 12-hour program
    • Complete level 8
    • Certificate of completion
  • F-1 Visa Students
    • 18-hour program
    • Complete level 8
    • Program diploma

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Attendance

  • Attendance=how often you come to class
  • Procedures
    • When you come to class each day, you must sign in with your name and the time you arrive.

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Late/Tardy

  • You must arrive on time. If you are more than 15 minutes late, your teacher will mark you “late.”
  • Tardy + Tardy + Tardy = Absent
  • If you miss more than 0.5 a class, you will be marked absent.

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  • Attend all classes
    • Late or absent? Tell your teacher!
    • You are still responsible for the work covered in class and the homework.
    • You must have 80 percent overall attendance each term.  If you have 3 terms with less than 80 percent attendance, you will be dismissed from school and can lose your visa.

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Participation

Everyone must participate in class. If some students are distracting, then it makes it hard for everyone to learn. Your teacher may mark you absent or tardy if:

  • you regularly speak a language other than English
  • you use a cell phone for things other than class activities
  • you leave class often or for long amounts of time
  • you don’t pay attention to teacher instructions and it interrupts class
  • anything else that makes class difficult for everyone

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Academic Dishonesty (Cheating)

The English Island takes cheating very seriously. All work you turn in must be your own. You will receive a 0 on a quiz or test if you break any of these rules:

  • Put away all personal belongings.
  • Do not look at your phone during a quiz or exam.
  • Do not talk to your classmates during a quiz or exam.
  • Do not look at your books or notes during a quiz or exam.
  • Do NOT look at your classmate's quiz or exam.

If you have a question or need to be excused, ask your teacher!

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Book Policy

All students must buy the books for their classes. (General class= student book and workbook. Specialty classes= student book)

  • Your first term, we will be a little flexible, but you still need to order books as soon as possible.
  • You can buy your books from the school!
  • Teachers and students are not allowed to share photocopies or scans of the book.

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Make-Up Classes

Make-up classes are on Fridays.

Make-up classes are online.

ONLY Friday make-up classes are online. All other classes are in person.

Online classes use the program ZOOM. Your teacher will send the Zoom link for the class.

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Inclusivity

  • The English Island is a diverse international community.
  • We want all people to feel included and comfortable.
  • We support everyone, regardless of race, sex, gender, orientation, identity, religion, education level, nationality, ethnicity, and ability.
  • We expect students to be polite and considerate of others.

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Dress Code

OK

  • Eye glasses
  • Religious headscarves
  • T-shirts, polo shirts, tunics
  • Tennis shoes, sandals, dress shoes
  • Jeans, pants, slacks, skirts, dresses

Not OK

  • Clothing with offensive language and images
  • Bare feet
  • Very short shorts
  • Bathing suit tops
  • Completely visible underwear

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Health Insurance and US Healthcare

  • Visiting the doctor in the US is VERY expensive ($120-150 per visit before labs and tests.)
  • Health insurance is not required by the government but strongly suggested.
  • To save money, visit urgent care clinics before visiting the hospital emergency room.
  • If you are going to be here a long time, consider buying health insurance for international students. For information about insurance, see the PDSO, DSO,    Student Services & Support, or visit isoa.org
  • COVID-19:
    • If you test positive, stay home until you test negative.
    • You can come to class if you test negative and have no symptoms, but you must wear a KN95 mask for 5 days.
    • If you have a cold or flu, please wear a mask to class.

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Student Support and Services

  • Student Activities
  • Answers to common questions
  • Help adjusting to life in the United States
    • Getting a driver’s license
    • Apartment hunting / finding a roommate
    • Find a doctor or counselor
    • Opening a bank account
    • Finding a place of worship

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Rules for Success

  • Respect your investment
  • English at all times
  • Study at least 1 hour a day and do all homework
  • Patience
  • Everyone matters
  • Come to all classes and arrive on time
  • Teamwork and tolerance

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Contacts

If you have a visa or immigration question, 

If you have a question about books or classes,

If you have a personal or emotional problem, have a question about a student activity, need help adjusting to the U.S., or have a general question,

If you have a technology problem during online classes,

If you have a complaint,

  • Speak with administration if the complaint is less serious.
  • For formal complaints, fill out a form in the Complaint Binder at the  front desk.

For a list of useful information for current students,

visit Student Resources – www.theenglishisland.com/student-resources/

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Thank you!

Student Resources QR Code