The SKS English as a Second Language Program (ESL) is one of our specialties.

Designed for non-native speakers of English, the ESL program provides students with the knowledge and training they need to succeed in their studies and careers. We prepare students for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and for entrance into English-language colleges and universities.

The process begins with an assessment to determine each ESL student's level of proficiency in English. Students are then placed in the classes suited to their individual needs, including: 

• ESL High Beginner Grammar
• ESL High Beginner Literature
• ESL History
• ESL Intermediate
• ESL Advanced  

The SKS ESL classes cover grammar, writing, reading, vocabulary, listening, and speaking.  But just as importantly, the immersion in the SKS community provides valuable opportunities for our international students to sharpen their communication skills and integrate into American culture. 

Our ESL students take core classes and electives with domestic students. They also participate in school-wide athletics and clubs. Our offerings in Performing Arts, including Music and Fine Arts, enlarge their repertoire of communication skills.  

The day-to-day activities, such as sharing pizza with American students or watching a movie in the Common Room, encourage ongoing cultural exchange. The ESL students learn more about American culture, and the American students learn about countries overseas.  

Our popular International Fair, held yearly in January, gives our international students a chance to share the customs, culture, language—and especially the foods—of their homeland with their eager SKS peers.