The ESL program at AIS-Salzburg is designed to meet the needs of non-native-English speakers who would benefit from more intensive English instruction. After testing, students are placed in one of four levels of ESL instruction and given daily lessons on grammar, composition, reading, vocabulary, speaking, and aural training.

Level Offered	Description	Periods per Week
ESL Level One	Pre-Entry Program (June to August)	25
ESL Level Two	Academic Year (September to May)	15
ESL Level Three	Academic Year (September to May)	15
ESL Level Four	Academic Year (September to May)	5

AIS-Salzburg can accept into the ESL program only those students who have already achieved an intermediate level of English knowledge. All students in the ESL program must successfully complete the highest level offered (ESL level four) during their senior year (age 17-18) to achieve the AIS-Salzburg ESL diploma. Students who successfully complete ESL level four before their senior year are mainstreamed into the regular academic program.

The AIS-Salzburg pre-entry program (ESL level one) provides new students with seven weeks of intensive English-language instruction before enrollment in September.

Although load, promotion, and credit requirements remain the same as with the standard AIS-Salzburg diploma, the ESL-diploma students are not required to reach as high a level in subject areas other than English and mathematics. Adjustments are made as follows for this diploma:

A minimum of twenty-five credits is required, whereby these credits must be earned as follows during the ninth through twelfth grades:

Course	ESL Credit Requirements
English	7 credits, including ESL Level Four
Foreign Language*	1.6 credits
Mathematics**	3 credits, including Geometry Algebra II
Physical Education	2 credits
Science**	3 credits, including Biology and Chemistry
Social Studies	3 credits, including United States History
Health/Community Service and Leadership	1.6 credits
Electives	3 credits

*1 credit in German, 0.6 credits in either French or Spanish
**1 credit minimally must be earned in a math or science course at least one level higher than the minimum required

1. A student who has tested into the ESL level two:
   ESL 2a English Grammar and Composition
   ESL 2b English Reading and Vocabulary
   ESL 2c English Speech and Pronunciation
   Mathematics at an appropriate level
   Junior-High Science
   World History or World Geography
   Health
   Elective
   Healthy Lifestyle Requirement
   
   
2. A student who has tested into the ESL level three:
   ESL 3a English Grammar and Composition
   ESL 3b English Reading and Vocabulary
   ESL 3c English Speech and Pronunciation
   Mathematics at an appropriate level
   ESL Science
   World Cultures
   Health or Community Service and Leadership
   Elective
   Healthy Lifestyle Requirement
   
   
3. A student who has tested into the ESL level four:
   ESL 4
   German 1 and French 1 or Spanish 1
   French I or Spanish I
   Mathematics at an appropriate level
   Chemistry
   US History
   World History or World Geography
   Health or Community Service and Leadership
   Elective
   Healthy Lifestyle Requirement
   

Students who have graduated from the American International School-Salzburg with an AIS-Salzburg diploma with emphasis in English as a second language have gained acceptance to many state universities and colleges in the United States. In most instances, this diploma is not acceptable for university entrance outside of North America. Continued English-as-a-second-language instruction may be required at the university level.

Last update:  Wednesday, October 10, 2007