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District's ESL program serves about 250 students
The student population in Douglas County has become internationally representative.
By By: Tom Herman
The student population in Douglas County has become internationally representative.
Former Argentina, Vietnam, Pakistan, Egypt, Cambodia, Poland, Lithuania, Sweden, Columbia, Iran and Morocco residents go to school in the county.
To help these students adjust, the school district offers an English as a Second Language program.
The program recently hired a full-time coordinator for the program. Parke Covarrubias will oversee the program, which now serves about 250 students from nearly every continent.
"It is important to note that ESL is an English language immersion program, not a bilingual program," Covarrubias said.
"Teachers use a wide variety of methods to ensure that these students develop competent skills in English literacy to meet grade-level academic requirements."
ESL teachers trained in special techniques teach English language skills during specific periods in the school day. For the remainder of the day, students remain in their assigned classrooms.
The program has 12 certified ESL teachers for elementary, middle and high school students across the district. Most elementary students attend magnet schools in their geographic area.
"Research indicates it takes two to seven years before students are academically proficient in English," Covarrubias said. "The older the child, the longer it may take, but much depends on the literacy level of the student's primary language."
Small group, intensive instruction that focuses on speaking, listening, reading and writing allows ESL teachers to prepare individual learning plans to meet each student's needs, Covarrubias said.
Former Argentina, Vietnam, Pakistan, Egypt, Cambodia, Poland, Lithuania, Sweden, Columbia, Iran and Morocco residents go to school in the county.
To help these students adjust, the school district offers an English as a Second Language program.
The program recently hired a full-time coordinator for the program. Parke Covarrubias will oversee the program, which now serves about 250 students from nearly every continent.
"It is important to note that ESL is an English language immersion program, not a bilingual program," Covarrubias said.
"Teachers use a wide variety of methods to ensure that these students develop competent skills in English literacy to meet grade-level academic requirements."
ESL teachers trained in special techniques teach English language skills during specific periods in the school day. For the remainder of the day, students remain in their assigned classrooms.
The program has 12 certified ESL teachers for elementary, middle and high school students across the district. Most elementary students attend magnet schools in their geographic area.
"Research indicates it takes two to seven years before students are academically proficient in English," Covarrubias said. "The older the child, the longer it may take, but much depends on the literacy level of the student's primary language."
Small group, intensive instruction that focuses on speaking, listening, reading and writing allows ESL teachers to prepare individual learning plans to meet each student's needs, Covarrubias said.
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