English Language Learners
Office Staff:
-
Mildred Martinez, Administrative Assistant
362-1871
General Information
In the Amherst Public and Amherst Pelham Regional Schools, there are students from over 25 different language groups that are learning English as a new language. The most common languages spoken, in alphabetical order, are: Cape Verde/Creole, Chinese, Khmer, Korean, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
A range of instructional programs are provided to support English Language Learners to learn English and academic content and be active members of our school community.
Students’ language learning needs are determined through the use of standardized and authentic assessments.These are administered upon enrollment, annually, and at transfer from the program. Staff from the English Language Learners Program provide these assessments and do so in compliance with Massachusetts Department of Education’s regulations about educating English Language Learners.
In our elementary schools, there are a large number of Cambodian, Korean, Mandarin, and Spanish speaking English Language Learners. Specific sites have been designated for students from these language groups to best address their linguistic, cultural, and academic learning needs. Khmer speaking ELLs have been clustered at Fort River School, Korean speaking ELLs at Mark’s Meadow School, Mandarin speaking ELLs at Wildwood School, and Spanish speaking ELLs at Crocker Farm School. Each school has bilingual staff that is familiar with the techniques of sheltered English instruction and students’ cultural, linguistic, and academic experiences.
Using the principles and practices of sheltered English immersion, students are provided with instruction in English as a new language (commonly referred to as ESL) and clarification in the native language when needed to learn subject matter. The level of instruction in English and amount of clarification in the native language is determined by a student’s proficiency in English. Students transition from the ELL Program in a carefully planned sequence and are monitored, according to state regulations, for a period of two years upon transfer from the program.
Links:
- Massachusetts Department of Education-English Language Learners
- Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, Inc. (TESOL)
- The SIOP Model of Sheltered Instruction including links describing SIOP and Sample Lesson Plans
- Tutors and Translators