What is ESL?

The goal of Wilson County Schools English as a Second Language Program is to provide equal educational opportunities to students who have a primary home language other than English and who are English Learners (ELs) / Multilingual Learners (MLs). The main focus is to provide an English-rich environment in order for students to attain grade-appropriate academic achievement. This program provides each limited English speaking student the opportunity to be successful in academic areas and to develop listening, speaking, reading, and writing proficiency.

How Can Parents Support Learning at Home for ELs?

1. Speak to your child in your home language. Children are able to learn many languages at once. Using your home language will not confuse them, even if they speak English. Read books, sing songs, and share experiences with your child in your home language.

2. Talk about the benefits of being bilingual with your child:

• a strong connection to family and culture

• more opportunities for education, careers, and travel

• lifelong benefits for the brain

3. Encourage good homework habits.

• Make homework part of a daily routine.

• Create a designated space for schoolwork to be done.

• Put away screens until homework is finished.

• Foster a growth mindset by emphasizing progress over perfection.

4. Make frequent trips to the public library. Public libraries in the United States are free and for everyone. Help your child obtain a library card so they can check out books to read and enjoy. Pubic libraries also have audio books students can check out online or at a physical location. Encourage your child to tell you about the stories they are reading or listening to. Ask your child questions about the stories.

5. Watch TV  in English with closed captions. The listening comprehension, vocabulary development, and connecting to something students enjoy is a powerful and easy way to encourage English.

6. Encourage involvement in extracurricular activities.

7. Stay connected and collaborate with teachers.

8. Have fun with language. Play games such as Scrabble and Boggle to help with English spelling. Use I SPY and ABC books to increase vocabulary in a fun way. Read the comics in both languages and play games where you think of words in one language and your child has to think of the same word in the other language.

9. Tell your child how important you think school is and encourage him or her to participate in class. 

10. Encourage your child to be proud of your heritage. Find ways for them to incorporate their knowledge of this in their classroom (class projects, etc). Encourage them to read and write in your home language.