- Allen Independent School District
- Bilingual Education/ESL
- English as a Second Language
English as a Second Language (ESL)
-
Allen ISD offers an ESL instructional program in grades Pre-K-12th for eligible Emergent Bilingual students. The program considers the student's primary language, culture, and prior knowledge to be the foundation for academic success and social growth. Integrating language development and literacy skills across the curriculum (Pre-K-12) provides students with the opportunity to acquire a high level of literacy and fluency in English. In Allen ISD, ESL is taught by certified ESL teachers and is available at all campuses including the Dillard Special Achievement Center. ESL Summer School is available to eligible students.
Purpose & Benefits
-
ESL Purpose
- Designed to make grade-level academic content accessible to English learners.
- Target English language development, including listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, through academic content instruction that is linguistically and culturally responsive.
- Use the academic, linguistic, and cultural background of English learners as a platform for acquiring grade-level content material in English.
-
ESL Program Benefits
- Academic instruction is provided by teachers who:
- are trained in effective second language acquisition methods;
- understand the specific language needs of English learners and how to address them;
- recognize the benefits of an English learner’s academic, cultural, and linguistic background; and
- can adapt instruction, pacing, and materials to target an English learner’s language proficiency level.
- Linguistic accommodations on state assessments can be provided as needed.
- Meaningful participation in subjects such as art, music, and physical education will be provided alongside grade-level peers.
