In order to enable all students in the school to access the curriculum in a manner that allows them to benefit fully from their education and to reach their full potential, ISB provides a comprehensive English as an Additional Language (EAL) program. Learning a second language is a developmental process that occurs over a number of years. Developing basic interpersonal communication skills (BICS) can take up to two years while the more demanding cognitive academic language proficiency (CALP), the level of English language competence required to have adequate access to the mainstream curriculum, can take up to seven years to fully develop. For this reason ISB considers EAL to be a long-term commitment.