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It鈥檚 no secret that English is a difficult language to learn. However, as the most widely spoken language in the world, it鈥檚 incredibly useful to know.

In order to help St Jude鈥檚 students become the best English speakers they can be, the school has introduced an ESL (English as a Second Language) Program, where students learn using state-of-the-art computer software, in addition to their regular English lessons.

Since the school鈥檚 establishment, English has been the language of instruction at St Jude鈥檚. Students read, write, and speak English daily, and achieve outstanding exam results. So, what more can the ESL Program offer St Jude鈥檚 students?

鈥淭here鈥檚 no worry about whether our students can read or understand English,鈥� says Mr. Valence, Head of ESL at St Jude鈥檚 Secondary School. 鈥淥ur ESL Program is aimed at improving their speaking skills. We have tailored it to focus on listening and speaking skills.鈥�

Ms. Mary, another ESL Teacher, elaborates, 鈥淩egular English classes are more focused on examinations and the mechanics of language, but ESL classes are more focused on conversational English, like, how students can interact with other people using the English language.鈥�

And how does the software help the students learn?

鈥淭he ESL software is self-guided. The students use the computers and move through the modules and lessons. It鈥檚 interactive and the students can read, write, listen, speak and get instant feedback,鈥� explains Mr. Valence.

In order to implement the program, St Jude鈥檚 ESL staff have worked with the IT team to create four dedicated ESL Labs 鈥� two at St Jude鈥檚 Secondary School, one at St Jude鈥檚 Girls鈥� Secondary School, and one at St Jude鈥檚 Primary School. Here, students from Standard 1 to Form 6 attend twice-weekly lessons under the guidance of the school鈥檚 five specialist ESL teachers. Students can also visit the labs during free periods and on Sundays.

One student who is already benefitting from the new ESL classes is Shani, in Form 1. Twice a week he visits one of the two dedicated ESL Labs at Smith Campus. Under the guidance of Mr. Valence, he collects a headset, logs into his profile, and begins learning.

鈥淚 started secondary school this year after attending primary school at St Jude鈥檚, so I have been speaking English for many years,鈥� says Shani. 鈥淚 feel good about ESL because it is helping me improve my English speaking. I think it is very useful.鈥�

With strong English skills, when students like Shani graduate from St Jude鈥檚, they鈥檒l be better equipped for tertiary studies and eventually, employment.

The program is particularly useful for students who join St Jude鈥檚 in Form 1 or Form 5. 鈥淓SL helps these students a lot because the medium of instruction for all their subjects is English. ESL helps them catch up quickly and learn new vocabulary to help them learn in all their other classes,鈥� says Ms. Mary.

One way the software helps students improve their speaking is through voice recognition technology. When students speak into their headset microphone, the software rates their pronunciation. As students improve, they move to the next module where they learn more challenging skills.

鈥淭hey really like that challenge. And they get competitive with each other too! They really enjoy it,鈥� smiles Mr. Valence.

But ESL isn鈥檛 just fun and games, it鈥檚 already bringing tangible benefits to St Jude鈥檚 students as they move through the modules and build their skills.

鈥淚 see that they want to try hard and break barriers. They want to be the best they can be in conversational English,鈥� says Ms. Mary of her hardworking students.

鈥淚t鈥檚 always great to see someone change over the course of time. When I receive students who can鈥檛 pronounce words very well developing into competent students who are confident in the language, who can speak well and communicate freely and accurately鈥� it brings me joy to see that change,鈥� says Mr. Valence.

As a school, St Jude鈥檚 aims to provide students with an international standard of education, which includes English as a key element, in order to help them break the poverty cycle. Now, with the advent of our ESL Program, students will receive a further opportunity to become world-class English speakers.