What is ESL?

This page contains answers to common questions

1. Is an ESL teacher an interpreter?

No! Actually, the majority of our ESL teachers only speak English. Parent liaisons are responsible for this. Parent Liaison Information

2. If a child speaks a language other than English at home, does that automatically mean he or she needs ESL services?

Absolutely not! Just because the child speaks a language in addition to English does not mean he/she has deficiencies in English. We can never assume anything about the child until he or she is properly assessed.

3. What is ESL?

ESL stands for English as a Second Language.  English as a Second Language is a service provided to students for whom English is not a first language and who are gaining proficiency in the English language.  ESL services address the academic and language needs of these students to help them acquire and develop mastery of the English language.  

4. What does an ESL teacher do?

To put it simply, I am an English teacher!

I meet the needs of students in the following areas:

English language acquisition

Cultural acclimation

Cultural pride and self-worth

Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency (CALPS) through active learning of content

Advocate for social and acadmeic needs

Community Connections/Resources

I ensure that:

The rights of ELLs are honored and their needs are met.

The concerns of parents are validated and addressed.

The procedures for eligibility for New Hanover County's ESL services are clear, fair, and consistent.

MLs/ELs receive appropriate instruction based on each person's individual needs.

Student progress and data is monitored, documented, analyzed, and filed in cumulative folders . 

5. What are MLs, ELLs or ELs?

ML is the newest anacronym. It stands for Multilingual Learners. ELLs/ELs is still used, and they mean English Language Learners that qualify for ESL services.

6. What's the difference between ML/ELs and FEPs?  

MLs/ELs are English Language Learners that qualify for ESL services as identified by testing.  FEPs are Fluent English Proficient students as identified by testing and do not qualify, or have EXITED ESL services.

7. What does "Never Identified as EL" mean?

The student was tested and scored too high on the W-APT screener test to receive ESL services.

8. How are students determined ML/EL?

    a. Home Language Survey - Three Questions:

        What is the first language the student learned to speak?  

            What language does the student speak most often?

             What language is most often spoken in the home? 

       (if anything other than/in addition to English is written, we must research)

  b. W-APT or WIDA Screener (initial screeners that determines whether a student qualifies or not based on his/her score)

   c. If a student qualifies, he she is identified as English Learner (EL).  Teachers will  determine the student's service level (intensive, supportive, or transitional).

   d. Each year all EL students take the WIDA ACCESS test to evaluate their English Language Proficiency.  Students that have a composite score of 4.8+ exit ESL services.  They are then monitored for four years following exiting ESL.