For families where English is not the primary home language, FTA provides something no local school can: English-medium instruction at your own pace, with the time to actually understand each concept before moving forward, without the social pressure of language errors in front of peers.
**Who This Serves:** Recent immigrant families in the US. International families who want English-language US education. Bilingual families who want their children to strengthen academic English. Families returning from abroad who have fallen behind in English. Spanish-speaking families throughout the US and Latin America. Mandarin, Arabic, Tagalog, Hindi, Korean, and Portuguese-speaking families worldwide.
**Why Self-Paced English Immersion Works Better:** In a traditional classroom, an ELL student falls behind when they don’t understand a concept explained once in English. They can’t ask the teacher to re-explain without disrupting the class. They can’t pause the lesson. The gap compounds. FTA allows students to re-read instructions, re-watch explanation videos, and spend as much time as needed on language-heavy material without any social cost.
**Academic English vs. Conversational English:** FTA develops academic English — the formal, subject-specific language required for university success. Students who speak conversational English fluently sometimes still struggle with academic writing and technical vocabulary. FTA builds both through content instruction.
**Important Note on English Proficiency:** FTA’s curriculum is delivered in English. Students with very limited English proficiency will need English language development support (ESL classes, tutoring, or language courses) alongside FTA. FTA can serve as the academic content provider while external ESL support develops language skills concurrently.
**Most Common ELL Language Backgrounds at FTA:** Spanish (largest group), Tagalog/Filipino, Mandarin/Cantonese, Hindi/Urdu, Arabic, Korean, Portuguese, French.
**FAQ:**
– *Does FTA offer courses in languages other than English?* Courses are taught in English. Foreign language electives (Spanish, French) are available
– *What level of English proficiency is needed to enroll?* Sufficient to read and write in English at your child’s grade level — supplemental ESL support recommended for lower proficiency
– *Can a student earn credit for their native language as a foreign language requirement?* Contact admissions to discuss — native language proficiency may fulfill foreign language requirements
– *Does FTA provide ESL instruction?* Not as a standalone program — families should supplement with ESL resources
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Enroll at Forest Trail Academy Today
Founded in 2007, Forest Trail Academy has served over 10,000 students with a Cognia-accredited K-12 program. Open enrollment year-round. Call 800-890-6269 or submit an inquiry online.
