FAQs: English as a Second Language (ESL) Program
The following is basic information about the ESL Program. Please contact the ESL Coordinator for more
specific information.
What is the ESL Program?
The ESL Program is a federally funded program designed to teach the English language to students who themselves or their family members have a language other than English. Lessons and activities are developed by certified ESL teachers to ensure that students become proficient in speaking, listening, reading and writing the English language.
Is the ESL Program a “remedial”program?
The ESL program is not a remedial program. Students who are eligible for this program often speak two or more
languages at home! They are able to“switch” from their native language to the English language or other languages at home. Some students already have thinking, speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills in their native language. The ESL Program helps the students to learn how to use the English language fluently at school.
How does the ESL Program benefit my child?
“The English as a Second Language (ESL) Program has been developed and implemented to identify, assess,
and provide appropriate educational services to all ELs. The Program is designed to meet federal requirements for the elimination of discriminatory educational practices.” (Guam Procedural Manual, p. 1) Parents can be confident that that the school is providing appropriate, equal, and equitable education for their child.
How does my child become eligible for the ESL Program?
Home Language Survey
Upon registration, parents complete a Home Language Survey form. Parents answer five questions: [1.] Which language did your son or daughter speak when he or she first began to talk? [2.] What language does your son or daughter most frequently speak at home? [3.] What language does your son or daughter most frequently
speak with friends? [4.] What language do you use most frequently to speak to your son or daughter? [5.] Name the language(s) most often spoken by the adults at home.
English Language Proficiency Assessment
If one or more of the questions has an answer of a language other than English, the ESL Coordinator-Teacher administers an English language proficiency assessment. The results indicate the proficiency level for the English language. The results are not part of the grading system.
How do I know if my child is eligible for service by the ESL Program?
Parent Notice of Eligibility
A Notice of Eligibility is given to the parents regarding participation in the ESL program. Participation in the program ensures that the student’s progress is carefully monitored and support is provided to their teachers or
directly to eligible students. Parents have the option of waiving service with the ESL Program. If parents waive services by the ESL Program, student progress is still monitored with teacher reports but direct service for students is available upon parental request.
How does the ESL Program service eligible students?
ESL Program Placement
ESL service is determined in combination with the language proficiency assessment placement, district reading and math assessments, and homeroom teacher consultation. Upi ES’ Curriculum Coordinators and homeroom teachers assess students with the district reading and math tests. The ESL Coordinator assesses students using the Language Assessment Scale (LAS) tests. Homeroom and ESL teachers may administer teacher-created tests as needed.
Most eligible students stay in their regular classrooms for all subject areas. Some students are serviced directly by the ESL teachers for Reading, Language, and Math. ESL teaching and learning strategies are part of the ESL service. Eligible Kindergarten and Grade 1 students stay in their regular classrooms. Most eligible Grade 2-3 students stay in their regular classrooms. Only a limited number of eligible Grade 2-5 students are directly taught by the ESL teachers. These students have beginning or limited English proficiency because they have recently moved to Guam from countries where the native language is not English.
How does the ESL Program monitor the progress of eligible students?
Teacher Reports
Many federal laws and court rulings mandate that all teachers must provide equitable, comprehensible lessons so that eligible students can achieve both English language proficiency and academic proficiency close or near to that of their English speaking peers. ESL certified teachers must regularly complete information about student progress in acquiring English language proficiency. Regular classroom teachers must regularly complete information about modifications and or accommodations they use when teaching lessons with eligible
students. ESL certified teachers record their consultation service with the regular classroom teachers. This consultation service provides ESL teaching and learning strategies and similar information which can help the teacher and or the eligible students. The ESL Program collects all this information for the school administrator who ensures that all students have equal and equitable access to all academic content areas.
How long does my child stay with the ESL Program?
Second Language Acquisition
Learning English as a second language is a time-based process. This can be compared to the process of how a baby acquires his or her language; first learning the sounds, words, phrases, then using simple sentences to more complex sentences. Research shows that becoming proficient in learning a second language takes approximately five to seven years with equitable, consistent, rigorous, comprehensible instruction.
The ESL Program assesses eligible students every 18-24 months from the first assessment period. Within this time, students are taught both the English language and the academic content areas. Their progress is monitored via teacher reports and consultation or direct service by ESL certified teachers. At the next assessment period, eligible students who demonstrate full proficiency and academic proficiency are recommended to exit the ESL Program by their regular classroom teacher.
For example, a student from China is eligible for the program in Grade 2. In Grade 4, another assessment is administered. If language assessment results show full proficiency, academic grades are 80% or better, standardized assessment scores are at the 30%ile or more, and teachers indicate the student is working at grade level, the student is considered exited from the ESL Program.
How is information recorded by the ESL Program?
Student’s School Cumulative Folder
From the time of registration in the school until the time of exit from the ESL Program, all ESL information is collected and organized in the student’s school cumulative folder. All information is accessible to parents who
make a request through the school office. All information is kept confidential.
How do I get more information about the ESL Program?
Please call the school at 633-1382 to speak with any of the ESL teachers. The Department of Education person who oversees the ESL Program is Mrs. Vera Dela Cruz. Her office is located at the Comprehensive Center for Student Success in Mangilao. Please call the CCSS at 735-3501. More information is also available from the federal Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights at http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/ell/index.html
Updated October 2014
The following is basic information about the ESL Program. Please contact the ESL Coordinator for more
specific information.
What is the ESL Program?
The ESL Program is a federally funded program designed to teach the English language to students who themselves or their family members have a language other than English. Lessons and activities are developed by certified ESL teachers to ensure that students become proficient in speaking, listening, reading and writing the English language.
Is the ESL Program a “remedial”program?
The ESL program is not a remedial program. Students who are eligible for this program often speak two or more
languages at home! They are able to“switch” from their native language to the English language or other languages at home. Some students already have thinking, speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills in their native language. The ESL Program helps the students to learn how to use the English language fluently at school.
How does the ESL Program benefit my child?
“The English as a Second Language (ESL) Program has been developed and implemented to identify, assess,
and provide appropriate educational services to all ELs. The Program is designed to meet federal requirements for the elimination of discriminatory educational practices.” (Guam Procedural Manual, p. 1) Parents can be confident that that the school is providing appropriate, equal, and equitable education for their child.
How does my child become eligible for the ESL Program?
Home Language Survey
Upon registration, parents complete a Home Language Survey form. Parents answer five questions: [1.] Which language did your son or daughter speak when he or she first began to talk? [2.] What language does your son or daughter most frequently speak at home? [3.] What language does your son or daughter most frequently
speak with friends? [4.] What language do you use most frequently to speak to your son or daughter? [5.] Name the language(s) most often spoken by the adults at home.
English Language Proficiency Assessment
If one or more of the questions has an answer of a language other than English, the ESL Coordinator-Teacher administers an English language proficiency assessment. The results indicate the proficiency level for the English language. The results are not part of the grading system.
How do I know if my child is eligible for service by the ESL Program?
Parent Notice of Eligibility
A Notice of Eligibility is given to the parents regarding participation in the ESL program. Participation in the program ensures that the student’s progress is carefully monitored and support is provided to their teachers or
directly to eligible students. Parents have the option of waiving service with the ESL Program. If parents waive services by the ESL Program, student progress is still monitored with teacher reports but direct service for students is available upon parental request.
How does the ESL Program service eligible students?
ESL Program Placement
ESL service is determined in combination with the language proficiency assessment placement, district reading and math assessments, and homeroom teacher consultation. Upi ES’ Curriculum Coordinators and homeroom teachers assess students with the district reading and math tests. The ESL Coordinator assesses students using the Language Assessment Scale (LAS) tests. Homeroom and ESL teachers may administer teacher-created tests as needed.
Most eligible students stay in their regular classrooms for all subject areas. Some students are serviced directly by the ESL teachers for Reading, Language, and Math. ESL teaching and learning strategies are part of the ESL service. Eligible Kindergarten and Grade 1 students stay in their regular classrooms. Most eligible Grade 2-3 students stay in their regular classrooms. Only a limited number of eligible Grade 2-5 students are directly taught by the ESL teachers. These students have beginning or limited English proficiency because they have recently moved to Guam from countries where the native language is not English.
How does the ESL Program monitor the progress of eligible students?
Teacher Reports
Many federal laws and court rulings mandate that all teachers must provide equitable, comprehensible lessons so that eligible students can achieve both English language proficiency and academic proficiency close or near to that of their English speaking peers. ESL certified teachers must regularly complete information about student progress in acquiring English language proficiency. Regular classroom teachers must regularly complete information about modifications and or accommodations they use when teaching lessons with eligible
students. ESL certified teachers record their consultation service with the regular classroom teachers. This consultation service provides ESL teaching and learning strategies and similar information which can help the teacher and or the eligible students. The ESL Program collects all this information for the school administrator who ensures that all students have equal and equitable access to all academic content areas.
How long does my child stay with the ESL Program?
Second Language Acquisition
Learning English as a second language is a time-based process. This can be compared to the process of how a baby acquires his or her language; first learning the sounds, words, phrases, then using simple sentences to more complex sentences. Research shows that becoming proficient in learning a second language takes approximately five to seven years with equitable, consistent, rigorous, comprehensible instruction.
The ESL Program assesses eligible students every 18-24 months from the first assessment period. Within this time, students are taught both the English language and the academic content areas. Their progress is monitored via teacher reports and consultation or direct service by ESL certified teachers. At the next assessment period, eligible students who demonstrate full proficiency and academic proficiency are recommended to exit the ESL Program by their regular classroom teacher.
For example, a student from China is eligible for the program in Grade 2. In Grade 4, another assessment is administered. If language assessment results show full proficiency, academic grades are 80% or better, standardized assessment scores are at the 30%ile or more, and teachers indicate the student is working at grade level, the student is considered exited from the ESL Program.
How is information recorded by the ESL Program?
Student’s School Cumulative Folder
From the time of registration in the school until the time of exit from the ESL Program, all ESL information is collected and organized in the student’s school cumulative folder. All information is accessible to parents who
make a request through the school office. All information is kept confidential.
How do I get more information about the ESL Program?
Please call the school at 633-1382 to speak with any of the ESL teachers. The Department of Education person who oversees the ESL Program is Mrs. Vera Dela Cruz. Her office is located at the Comprehensive Center for Student Success in Mangilao. Please call the CCSS at 735-3501. More information is also available from the federal Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights at http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/ell/index.html
Updated October 2014