ESL traditionally means English as a Second Language, but at ECA English is often the third or fourth language of the students in our program. That is why at our school the ESL program is known as ELL. ELL stands for English-Language Learners. This year in ELL class we have children who speak Korean, Spanish, and German.
Our ELL students learn English in many different ways. In class, we listen to music and play games. We learn many, many new words. A lot of what we do is help with homework and assignments for other teachers. We also learn how to write sentences, stories, paragraphs, and essays. ELL class is a safe place to learn and practice English so that students can be successful in their other classes.
The ELL program exists to serve the non-native English speaking community, and students from all grade levels are eligible for participation. All non-native English speakers must be tested for English-language proficiency prior to admission. The minimum required level of proficiency varies by grade level. As much as possible, the ELL program is tailored to the individual language needs of students. It is transitional in nature in that the goal is to bring students up to grade level with an emphasis on academic vocabulary and composition.