English
As a Second Language (ESL) |
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What is ESL?English as a Second Language (ESL) is a K-12 program that teaches the English language to students whose native language is not English. Students are taught by licensed ESL teachers using methodology similar to that of teaching a foreign language to a native English speaker. Our current program includes more than 900 students, representing 23 languages other than English. Schools must provide equal educational opportunities to all students. Failure to take action to overcome language barriers impedes equal participation. Which students qualify for ESL classes?Any students qualifies for the ESL program if he/she meets any of the following requirements:
Which District 742 schools offer ESL programs?At the elementary level, Discovery, Madison, Oak Hill, Talahi and Westwood schools provide ESL instruction. At the secondary level, North Junior High, South Junior High, Tech High School and Apollo High School serve ESL students. What languages are represented in the program?Arabic, Bengali, Cambodian, Chinese, Croatian, French, Ibo, Indonesian, Nepali, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Other African, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Tagalog, Thai, Urdu, and Vietnamese. How are ESL classes organized?Elementary ESL: In K-6 schools, ESL uses either a pull-out or a push-in model of instruction. English Language Learning students leave their mainstream classroom to spend a period of time each day in ESL instruction. The amount of time a student receives English instruction depends on his/her level of language proficiency. Instruction is focused on English language development with emphasis on increasing vocabulary, reading comprehension and strategies, writing skills, and cultural understanding. Secondary ESL: At North, South, Tech and Apollo, ESL students are homogeneously grouped according to their level of language proficiency. Classes are at beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels. Guidelines recommend that beginning students study English up to three hours daily; as a student progresses ESL time is reduced and other content area classes are added. Students receive credit for all ESL classes. When do students exit the program?Students exit the ESL program by gaining proficiency on daily work in mainstream and ESL classrooms, achieving on standardized and other tests, and performing on Graduation Standards requirements. |
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