The Summer Session ESL program is an integrated system of learning where students participate in various classes and activities that are intricately connected. Brewster offers an unusually rich and intensive set of daily offerings, resulting in as many as 4 1/2 hours of directed English learning per day and a full immersion in English-only recreation activities, other classes, and dorm life for the remainder of each day. Every ESL student is assigned a native English speaking roommate. The ESL academic program includes three courses at five levels: the ESL Language, ESL Communication, and ESL Video Editing courses. In addition, each student takes an elective class with native English speakers.

ESL Language is based on reading and writing classes to further the students' academics.
ESL Communication is based on the communicative speaking and listening curriculum to help students broaden their horizon in language use as well as cultural studies.
ESL Video Editing forms the bridge between learning and application by collaborating amongst the ESL program, the computer graphics curriculum, and the community living program. This is an exciting, fun, and practical course in which ESL students research, design, film, edit, and output a video that calls on all the English skills they are learning in the reading, writing, listening, and speaking classes.

ESL 1 and 2

In the Summer Session ESL I and II classes, the focus is set on the initial stage of meeting people. The central idea of the course is to help the students integrate into the program by interacting with others in the most diverse settings. Having learned about and practiced the different forms of communication in the ESL classrooms, students have the opportunity to try out what they learned in everyday settings, achieving total language immersion. In this process, the Summer Session community is the first link outside the classroom. Homework assignments and projects ask the students to complete various tasks while learning to communicate with people of different ages and backgrounds. Peers and faculty of the greater Summer Program are an integral part of this curriculum. They are constantly informed about the progress in the ESL classes and asked to participate in the projects.

ESL 3 and 4

The ESL III and IV classes support more advanced students by providing an opportunity for them to improve their academics and their communication skills in a multicultural environment. At this level, the curriculum serves as a bridge between the ESL program and the mainstream English class. It covers reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills, preparing students for successful participation in their middle or high school career. The curriculum is constantly modified to suit the individual needs of each student and, thus, ensures maximum individual growth over six weeks. Teachers of the Summer Session meet regularly to discuss curriculum and student progress and placement. In staff meetings, members of the academic team cooperate with staff of the adventure program and community living to coordinate activities linked to curriculum.

ESL 5

The ESL V class is the mainstream English class in reading, writing, and critical thinking that serves our native English speaking students. Please see the course description under English. Again, the curriculum is constantly modified to suit the individual needs of each student and, thus, ensures maximum individual growth over six weeks.