English Language Learners
(Program formerly known as ESL)

Program Philosophy

The English Language Learners (ELL) program provides experiences that promote individual and social well-being. It also promotes educational access for students whose primary language is not English. It is an interdisciplinary program that helps students acquire essential skills for learning a new language and adjusting to a new culture. The aim of the program is to be responsive to the initial and changing needs of the student and to maintain flexibility within the program.

The ELL program emphasizes instructional assistance in the four skill areas of language development:  listening, speaking, reading, and writing. As such, the ELL program enables limited English-speaking students to communicate in English at a level that will allow them to perform successfully in mainstream classes.