ENL - English as a New Language / ESL

  • These pages can be translated to the language of your choice using this icontranslate to the right. 

      

    Important Terms 

    ELL: English Language Learner (student)
    ENL: English as a New Language (program) - formerly English as a Second Language (ESL)
    NYSITELL: New York State Identification Test for English Language Learners (entrance assessment that is given only once)
    NYSESLAT: New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test (yearly assessment while a student remains in the program)
    Stand-Alone: ENL teacher works with ELLs in a separate setting for small group instruction
    Integrated: ENL teacher co-teaches with a grade-level or content-area teacher to address the needs of students

     Department Philosophy

    The Herricks Union Free School District continues to welcome students, and their families, who are English Language Learners (ELLs) and the richness that they bring to our school community. As we immerse our students in the English language, we assist them in developing a deeper understanding of their own cultures, as well as the diverse cultures in the United States and in the world.  ELLs are capable of reaching the highest standards, but they need time and support to acquire the English language. Parental involvement is sought and nurtured to ensure the success of our students. We encourage parents to speak to their children in their home language; a child who is literate in his/her first language acquires the second language, in this case English, with fewer difficulties. A rich and stimulating linguistic environment at home, in any language, will ensure the academic and emotional success of our children.

     

    District Services Overview

    The work of English as a New Language (ENL) teachers is to provide appropriate support for their students by working with content-area teachers to develop their English language skills and knowledge of content. We believe that through communication about curriculum with classroom teachers, guidance counselors and administrators, students in our ENL Program are provided with carefully planned activities and assessments to help improve and develop English language skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. We provide integrated services/co-teaching so that we can meet the needs of our ELLs by pairing a content area teacher with an ENL teacher in order to make content comprehensible; this approach is beneficial to all students, ELLs and native speakers of English. ELLs also learn in a stand-alone setting for more targeted support. Integrated/Co-Teaching or stand-alone classes are determined at each building in order to best meet the needs of students. ALL teachers are provided with professional development in order to provide our ELLs with the support they need. 

    Select students take the New York State Identification Test for English Language Learners (NYSITELL) to determine if they are eligible for ENL services; this is a one-time entrance exam. The New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test (NYSESLAT) is administered yearly in order to determine a student's level of proficiency. The image below shows the different levels of language proficiency based on the NYSITELL and NYSESLAT.  These exams are not pass / fail assessments; they measure a student's natural progression of language acquisition. Language acquisition takes time and varies for each student. Once a student reaches the level of Commanding, he/she is then exited from ENL services, but the district is required to support ELLs for an additional two years. Our ultimate goal is to see ELLs exit our ENL program and to ensure academic success and social and emotional well-being. 

     

    EPL Graphic

     

    Families of ELLs are informed twice a year on their child's progress in English language development. These are separate from their report cards. Samples PDFs are below by CLICKING on the grade level(s). Please contact your child's ENL teacher if you should have any questions or wish to schedule an appointment to discuss further. 

     

    Grade K

    Grades 1, 2

    Grades 3, 4, 5

    Grades 6, 7, 8

    Grades 9, 10, 11, 12

     

    The ENL Department provides support to ELLs through our Summer ENL JumpStart Program and Summer ENL Academic Writing Program. ENL teachers also support ELLs in small group instruction before or after school. All students should seek support from their grade-level or content-area teachers for help.  Below are helpful links for students and parents. 

     

    Resources for Students and Parents

    Bilingual Glossaries

    Google Translate

    Word Reference

    NYSED OBEWL Resources for Parents that includes the process of ELL identification, Parent's Bill of Rights, and other useless documents

     

    Elementary

    Stories, Phonics, and Literacy Development

    Online Books for Free

    Check your school's library webpage for additional links

     

    Secondary

    Newsela

    Khan Academy

    NYS Regents Exams

     

    If you should have any questions about our programs, please contact:

     

    Francesco L. Fratto
    Director of World Languages, Language Immersion & English as a New Language
    ffratto@herricks.org
    Office: 516-305-8719

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