The English Language Learners program (ELL) is available to children whose primary language is not English and who require assistance to become fluent. Presently, we have approximately 325 ELL students.
There are 24 different languages (as per MyEd database) spoken in the Mission Public Schools community:
Albanian, Arabic, Cantonese, Dari, Punjabi, Spanish, Hindi, Persian (Farsi), Japanese, Korean, Kurdish, Lithuanian, Malayalam, Persian, Filipino, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, Vietnamese
Refugees and newcomers
Families who arrive in B.C. as refugees have overcome great obstacles and adversity. Awareness and understanding of the backgrounds and needs of students with refugee experience, in addition to their strengths and cultural differences, can help them succeed at school.
Resources
English Language Learning
Takes Time
Basic Interpersonal Skills (1-2 years)
Day to day language of social interaction
Surface level – here and now
Familiar content
Face to face conversation
High frequency words (2,000 words)
Simple sentence structure
Low pressure (mostly for social conversation)
Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency (5 or more years)
Formal, written text, specialized words, humour, idioms, textbook language, lectures, non-verbal communication
More abstract
Less familiar content
Decontextualized
High level literacy required
Cultural and linguistic knowledge often necessary for understanding
Low frequency words
Skills like comparing, classifying, synthesizing, evaluating, and inferring are necessary
High pressure (for academic study and evaluations)
English Language Learning (ELL) Support Can Help:
Develop English listening, speaking, reading and writing skills
Support classroom learning
Provide a more comfortable setting for acquiring new skills and asking questions
Promote classroom routines and school expectations
Develop academic language skills
Develop social skills
Support families and connect them to community resources
Promote a sense of pride and understanding of various cultures and languages
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I know if my child needs ELL?
If you are new to Canada or if there is another language spoken in your home, your child may benefit from ELL support. An ELL specialist can complete an assessment at your child’s school and make a recommendation as to whether your child may benefit from ELL.
- How can I get ELL support for my child?
You can contact the school to let them know you speak another language at home. An ELL specialist can then complete an assessment. Sometimes principals, classroom teachers or support teachers recognize that a student has another language at home and request that the ELL specialist assess the student.
- What does ELL support look like?
A student’s ELL program is developed based on the assessment, individual needs and input from the classroom teacher. ELL support may take place in a small group setting or in class.
- Is there an ELL reception centre for new Canadians in this school district?
No. Assessments are done at the student’s school by an ELL specialist. A copy of the assessment will be sent home.
- How long can my child receive ELL support?
Language learning takes many years to develop. ELL students in BC may receive up to five years of ELL support. However, every child progresses at different rates and some students may require less than five years and others more.
- Can we continue speaking our home language with our child?
Yes! Research shows that ELL students do best when they have a strong grasp of any home language. By continuing to speak your first language, you will help your child develop a richer vocabulary and higher level thinking in English.
If you speak another language at home, please contact your child’s classroom teacher. They will make a referral to the ELL teacher.
