English As a Second Language

P.S. 108’s Bilingual and ESL Programs

     P.S. 108 provides several programs which cater to English Language Learners or ELLs. Although the majority of our ELL students are Spanish speakers, we also service students who speak Bengali, French, Chinese, Urdu and Haitian-Creole. 

     At P.S. 108 we offer three options for English Language Learners: the Transitional Bilingual Program, the Dual Language Program, and an ESL Program which follows the push-in model

The ESL Program
    
     We offer an ESL Program for students who opt out of the Bilingual

Program.  ESL stands for English as a Second Language. Core content area instruction will be provided using the push-in model, where the ESL teacher goes into the classroom to provide support.       

The Transitional Bilingual Program

     In the Transitional Bilingual Program, the languages of instruction are 60% Spanish and 40% English.  There is one bilingual class on the fifth grade level.  This program is good for students who are new arrivals to the country, or those whose Spanish is more dominant than their English

The Dual Language Program

     Students in this program receive 50% native language instruction and 50% ESL instruction.  This program promotes the development of bilingual and biliterate children.  The classrooms include a balance of students from Spanish and English backgrounds who participate in instructional activities together.  Students read, write and speak in English for an entire day.  The following day he/she switches classrooms and receives instruction in Spanish.

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