ESL/Bilingual Education Programs Danbury Public Schools Augusto Gomes, Administrator

ESL Instruction

English as a second language (ESL) instruction is a special instructional approach for developing the language proficiency of non-English language background students for both social and academic communication. Since it is an approach, ESL is made up of many methods and practices, some of which are modified versions of standard curriculum and practices.

All ESL students, regardless of grade level or educational background, will proceed through the stages of English language development on their way to linguistic competence in English. ESL is inherently different from other content areas, in that grade-level performance is based upon degree of English language proficiency. Students enter programs at every grade level and there is no necessary connection between their grade level and their English proficiency. Furthermore, an individual’s proficiency level may vary among the four skill areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing.