Learning English as a second language in a special school in Québec

A number of schools in Québec offer intensive English as a Second Language (ESL) classes in French language schools. In most of these, francophone students have full-day ESL classes, every day for five months of one school year. In the remaining five months, they complete the other subject matter for their grade level. In the 'special school' described in this study, all students are in Grade 6 and all are in intensive ESL classes. Students use English in a variety of communicative interactions, both inside and outside the ESL classroom, throughout the school year. Students' English language performance was assessed: Little difference was found between those whose intensive ESL course was in the fall or winter terms. Results suggest that the 'ambient English' in this school permits students to achieve higher levels of English than comparable students in intensive ESL courses in schools where English is spoken only in the ESL classroom.