English as a Second Language (ESL)

  The program enables students to gain competency in English (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) and to progress academically through school to meet all graduation requirements.  The overall goals of this program are:

• To prepare Multilingual Learners to become productive citizens in our schools and communities.
• To provide for the effective participation of all Multilingual Learners in the educational programs of the Duplin County Public School System.
• To enable MLs to gain competency in English (listening, speaking, reading, writing) and to progress academically through school to meet all graduation requirements.
• To effectively teach English to Multilingual Learners, as well as content area concepts and language, and to move them successfully into the mainstream educational program within a reasonable length of time.
• To provide MLs with effective instructional opportunities for the acquisition of academic concepts and academic vocabulary to ensure growth in both content and language proficiency.
• To provide opportunities for personal, linguistic, academic and emotional growth to Multilingual Learners .
• To ensure that Multilingual Learners are given the opportunity to compete on an equal footing with their English-speaking peers.

PHILOSOPHY

The Duplin County Public School System believes that all children must have an equal opportunity to develop their potential, regardless of their national origin or their home language.

The student’s perception of educators’ attitudes toward his/her language and culture is as significant as the cognitive/academic proficiency in English to reaching her/his potential in our schools.  It is the responsibility of the Duplin County Public School System to ensure that the Multilingual Learner  in the school system receives an education in an environment that is accepting and respectful to a multilingual, multicultural student population.

 PROGRAM GOALS 

• To increase each Multilingual Learners' proficiency in English (listening, speaking, reading, writing)as quickly as possible so that the student can function successfully in classes where English is the language of instruction.
• To ensure that all students achieve proficiency in the English language adequate for their effective participation in the mainstream education program.
• To increase the MLs' knowledge of U. S. history, culture, and customs.
• To improve MLs' language and social skills necessary for adapting to American society.
• To increase the number of mainstream content area teaching staff trained in the latest methodology.
• To increase training opportunities for parents of MLs via ESL Parent Nights or ESL Parent Meetings.