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ESL Programs in K-6 This is the second video in the series about
different types of ESL/EFL programs. When we look at the world of the ELL, English
Language Learner, in elementary and secondary schools in the US, the variety of programs
available is extensive. Here I just want to introduce you to some of the basic concepts.
First, let's look at the Pull-Out Programs. These type of programs are most common in
elementary school because in middle school and secondary schools, LEPs, limited English
proficiency students usually take special English classes for one of the class periods.
In elementary school, a version of this is for students to spend the majority of the
day in regular, or mainstream, classes and then get "pulled-out" of their regular class
for an hour or so of specific ESL instruction. These pull-out classes may have ELLs from
first, second, third grades, etc. all together in one ESL class.
The main type of ESL program in the US is called "Submersion," where there is actually
no specific ESL instruction. LEPs are put into regular classrooms, called mainstreaming,
where they are expected to pick up the language through the teaching given to all the students.
This submersion works for some students, but leaves the majority of students lagging behind
academically. LEPs in this type of program tend to do better in math and science classes
where the language is not so essential. Similar to Submersion are "Structured English
Immersion" programs. LEPs are mainstreamed or kept in regular classes, but teachers are
expected to use ESL instruction strategies and skills for helping them adjust and keep
up with all the students in the class. Another type is Bilingual Education. The TESOL
organization believes bilingualism to be valuable and desirable. Bilingual education today is
designed for learners to keep their heritage language while learning English. Content such
as math, social studies, and science may be taught in one or both languages, but usually
content is taught in English with support given in both languages.
Related to Bilingual Education is something called Two-Way Immersion programs. The difference
is that in TWI programs there are equal numbers of students in the class who speak English
and who are learning English. This is common in Canada where French and English are the
national languages. For example, in a second grade TWI class you might have 15 native-French-speaking
students and 15 native-English-speaking students. The content is taught in both languages. The
goal is for the English-speaking students to learn French and the French-speaking students
to learn English. In review, we talked about Pull-Out Programs,
Submersion, Structured English Immersion, Bilingual Education, and Two-Way Immersion.
By the way, different schools, different states and different places will use different names
for these types of programs, but these are generally the different types of programs
that are referred to.