ABSTRACT
The purposes of the High Intensity Language Training (HILT) program are to help students feel comfortable in their new environment and to provide them with the skills they need to be successful in mainstream high-school English classes and extracurricular activities, and beyond. The beginning levels of instruction immerse students in the English language and help them adjust to American culture. The English classes for intermediate students include: listening, understanding, and speaking; reading and comprehension; English for science; and English for social studies. The pattern of reduced English instruction and increased emphasis on subject areas continues at the advanced level. Advanced classes are offered in the junior high schools. Transitional classes are offered to 9th-graders in the high schools. Sheltered courses in math, science, and social studies, together with the "English for" classes that present the special terminology for each subject area, have enabled HILT students to make a smooth transition into the wider academic demands of high school.
