Department 07 — of 07
English Language
Learning.
Four skills, every level — full membership in an English-speaking world.
Overview
Storm King's ELL Program exists so that no student experiences the School from the sidelines. Through a comprehensive approach to screening, placement, instruction, and assessment, international students build the listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills to participate fully in every academic and social sphere of the School — and of the wider English-speaking world. Instruction is content- and project-based, with a steady focus on vocabulary building and grammar, practiced everywhere from interdisciplinary courses to the International Fair, summer programs, and educational trips that bridge language study with everything else a student learns.
Courses run in two parallel strands — Conversation and Literature & Writing — at every level from beginning to advanced, joined by sheltered sections of Global Studies and US Studies History that deliver the School's core history curriculum with language support built in. As proficiency grows, students transition into the traditional English and history sequences, arriving with the skills to hold their own.
Courses
ELL I Conversation
This course improves students’ accuracy in spoken English. Students will produce a variety of oral assignments with activities that develop oral language and pronunciation skills. “Mini Podcast” projects are also developed using Soundtrap for Education.
ELL II Intermediate Conversation
This course produces more complex oral language assignments while continuing to work on pronunciation, word usage, and confidence. Students focus more on Oral Presentations (Persuasive, Informative & Demonstrative Speeches) and podcast projects that involve longer, more complex verbal exchanges.
ELL Intermediate/Advanced Conversation
In this course, Students produce more advanced oral presentations using idioms, colloquialisms, and common slang found in the English Language. Oral presentations will be more developed and conversational assignments and podcast projects will have more complex rubrics.
ELL I Literature & Writing
This course improves students’ accuracy in using English in the classroom with an equal focus on all four components: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Students analyze a range of literary and informational texts while producing various forms of writing connected to their reading. An important focus is the improvement of speaking skills in the form of creating podcasts and traditional oral presentations. Technological resources used in the classroom are Soundtrap for Education and Newsela.
ELL II Intermediate Literature & Writing
This course is designed to build upon ELL Level I skills, while continuing to incorporate reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Students will explore novels, nonfiction, and other various genres while producing varied forms of short and long response writing. Activities also help students to develop their oral presentation skills and acquire study skills (including note-taking and summarizing skills) that will enhance their ability to learn in all subjects.
ELL Intermediate/Advanced Literature & Writing
Through the study of classic American literature, students work toward improving their own spoken and written English while learning to understand and appreciate college-level literature. Students will engage in several genres including short stories, novels, and nonfiction material. With a primary focus on reading and writing, students will examine various texts and develop written responses in the form of expository, persuasive, and literary essays. Reading and writing assignments will also assist in expanding their vocabulary and grammatical skills. Through the analysis of literature, students will continue to develop their speaking skills by engaging in small group communication, podcasts projects, and oral presentations. These projects always accompany written work to round out their development as English speakers. Audio and video selections will be included to prepare students for the level of listening and understanding necessary for higher level academic work.
ELL Advanced/Senior American Literature Advanced
This class functions and produces work equal to an upper-level high school English Literature class. Students continue studying American Literature while being introduced to some of the most prominent American writers of the 20th Century. Students are assigned essays and several reading assignments while continuing their advancement in the English language necessary for college success.
ELL Global Studies History
In this required ninth grade course, students explore the cultures and history of people across the globe, from the beginning of human development through ancient civilizations and the Middle Ages. By understanding the common struggles and achievements of past people, students better understand the shortcomings and successes of our current age. While studying history chronologically, focus is placed on several themes that have impacted the course of human culture and civilization, including colonization and empire-building, different political systems, and technology. The class also examines the day-to-day aspects of life such as family, religion, and food that have changed over time.
ELL US Studies History
Offered to tenth graders, this course reviews the important events and key issues related to US history. Topics covered include the birth of the new nation, the Civil War, diversity and equality, government, and foreign policy. The class takes advantage of its historical location along the iconic Hudson River to further the students’ exploration of history with resources such as the Black Rock Forest Preserve, USMA at West Point, the FDR museum, Washington’s Headquarters, Fort Montgomery, and many others.
Faculty
Leigh Katz
ELL Department Chair
International Student Program Coordinator · ELL Teacher
BFA, Theatre, The New School; MA, English, Columbia University Teachers College
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Leigh Katz received her BFA in Theatre from The New School and her MA in English from Columbia University Teachers College, where she was inducted into the International Honor Society in Education. She has extensive experience working as a traditional classroom teacher, private educator, and coach. Many of her students have come from diverse cultural backgrounds, and her trips abroad have affirmed her belief that travel promotes learning and education. Leigh is also a professional actress with a resume that includes voiceovers, feature films, and Off-Broadway, regional, and local stage credits. She believes her work as an artist shapes and enriches her teaching style in the classroom.
Anna O’Shea
ELL Teacher
BA, English, Smith College; M.Ed., University of Wisconsin–Madison
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Before joining the faculty at Storm King, Anna Rose O’Shea worked as an ELL teacher at Annandale High School in Virginia, as well as an international English tutor for students around the world. Born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, Ms. O’Shea has lived in five different states over the past ten years, and briefly in Ireland and Greece. She holds a B.A. in English from Smith College and a Master’s in Education from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She currently lives with her partner, her two dogs — Rosa and Leon — and many plants. Her hobbies include fencing, baking, writing, and tabletop role-playing games such as D&D.
Angelica Centeno
ELL Teacher
Director of International Programs · World Language Teacher
BA, Cultural Studies, SUNY Empire State University
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Angelica was born and raised in Bogota, Colombia, and is proud of her culture and Hispanic heritage. She studied Business Administration and later completed a degree in Cultural Studies at Empire State University. During her time at The Storm King School, Angelica has successfully led cultural and service trips to Costa Rica and continues to organize travel opportunities for SKS. She also has a passion for hiking and coaches Outdoor Adventure in the spring and fall. Her two daughters — one of them an SKS alumna and a student at Cornell University — have taught her the importance of quality in education.
Ellen Van Dunk
ELL Teacher
World Language Department Chair
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Ms. Van Dunk teaches across the ELL and world-language programs and chairs the World Language Department. Full profile coming soon.
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