English Language Learners

MHS ELL DEPARTMENT

English Learner Education

The primary goal of the English Learner Education Program is to enable English Learners to achieve communicative and linguistic competence in English and to perform in academic content classrooms with high expectations.  The core classes have been divided into five levels.  The courses have been structured following the WIDA Standards Frameworks.  Students are placed into the appropriate level for their English language development based on ACCESS scores or results from the WIDA Model or on-line WIDA screener.  Each level is divided into sections A and B; Section A focuses on reading and listening and Section B focuses on speaking and writing.  Although the four language domains (speaking, listening, reading and writing) are represented in each section, students will be assessed in each domain specific to the class.  Benchmark assessments have been developed in each class at each level to ensure that students are well prepared to move between levels and be successful in all of their classes at Malden High School and beyond.

 

All of the ESL Courses are College Prep Courses

English as a Second Language placement is based on prerequisites and a placement exam

placement complies with department guidelines.

 

 

The core classes are divided into five levels:

Reading

and Listening

Speaking and Writing
Entering ESL 1 A B
Emerging ESL 1.5 A B
Developing ESL 2 A B
Expanding ESL 3 A B
Bridging ESL 4

 

 

 

ESL 1A                                                                        Level: College Prep

#20623                                               Credit:  .5, (1 Period, Semester Course)

This course is designed for students at the entering level of English language proficiency. All four areas of second language acquisition, listening, speaking, reading and writing, are emphasized through content-based instruction.  This course focuses on the explicit teaching of reading and listening strategies appropriate for students learning the basics of the English language. The course utilizes theme-based literature instruction and includes authentic texts. Focus is given to vocabulary development, reading skills and listening skills.

ESL 1B                                                                        Level: College Prep

#20723                                                                       Credit:  .5, (1 Period, Semester Course)

This course is designed for students at the entering level of English language proficiency. All four areas of second language acquisition, listening, speaking, reading and writing, are emphasized through content-based instruction.  This course focuses on the explicit teaching of writing and speaking strategies appropriate for students learning the basics of the English language. The course utilizes a Writing Workshop model as a method of instruction to coach students in developing writing skills at the entering and emerging levels.  Focus is given to writing skills and speaking skills.

 

ESL 1.5A                                                                                             Level: College Prep

# 20083                                                                      Credit: .5, (1 Period, Semester Course)

This course is designed for students at the emerging level of English language proficiency. These are students who struggled with ESL 1 and need more time to prepare for ESL 2.  All four areas of second language acquisition, listening, speaking, reading and writing, are emphasized through content-based instruction.  This course focuses on the explicit teaching of reading and listening strategies appropriate for students learning the basics of the English language. The course utilizes theme-based literature instruction and includes authentic texts. Focus is given to vocabulary development, reading skills and listening skills.

 

ESL 1.5B                                                                                 Level: College Prep

#20093                                                                       Credit: .5, (1 Period, Semester Course)

This course is designed for students at the emerging level of English language proficiency. These are students who struggled with ESL 1 and need more time to prepare for ESL 2.  All four areas of second language acquisition, listening, speaking, reading and writing, are emphasized through content-based instruction.  This course focuses on the explicit teaching of writing and speaking strategies appropriate for students learning the basics of the English language. The course utilizes a Writing Workshop model as a method of instruction to coach students in developing writing skills at the entering and emerging levels.  Focus is given to writing skills and speaking skills.

 ESL 2A                                                                      Level: College Prep

#20293                                                                       Credit:  .5, (1 Period, Semester Course)

This course is designed for students at the developing level of English language proficiency. All four areas of second language acquisition, listening, speaking, reading and writing, are emphasized through content-based instruction.  This course focuses on the explicit teaching of reading and listening strategies appropriate for students at the developing level of English language proficiency. The course utilizes theme-based literature instruction and includes authentic texts. Focus is given to vocabulary development while facilitating reading fluency and comprehension.  Students apply reading strategies to literature and other texts to increase comprehension.

 

ESL 2B                                                                       Level: College Prep

#20393                                                                       Credit:  .5, (1 Period, Semester Course)

This course is designed for students at the developing level of English language proficiency. All four areas of second language acquisition, listening, speaking, reading and writing, are emphasized through content-based instruction.  This course focuses on the explicit teaching of writing and speaking strategies appropriate for students at the developing level of English language proficiency.  The course utilizes a Writing Workshop model as a method of instruction to coach students in developing writing skills to support students in all of their classes.  Students apply writing and speaking strategies to literature and other texts to increase language production.

 

ESL 3A                                                                       Level: College Prep

#20493                                                                       Credit:  .5, (1 Period, Semester Course)

This course is designed for students at the expanding level of English language proficiency. All four areas of second language acquisition, listening, speaking, reading and writing, are emphasized through content-based instruction.  This course focuses on the explicit teaching of reading and listening strategies appropriate for students at the expanding level of English language proficiency. The course utilizes theme-based literature instruction and includes authentic texts. Focus is given to vocabulary development while facilitating reading fluency and comprehension.  Students apply reading strategies to literature and other texts to increase comprehension.

 

ESL 3B                                              Level: College Prep

#20593                                                                       Credit:  .5, (1 Period, Semester Course)

This course is designed for students at the expanding level of English language proficiency. All four areas of second language acquisition, listening, speaking, reading and writing, are emphasized through content-based instruction.  This course focuses on the explicit teaching of writing and speaking strategies appropriate for students at the expanding level of English language proficiency.  The course utilizes a Writing Workshop model as a method of instruction to coach students in developing writing skills to support students in all of their classes.  Students are required to write a research paper as part of the final assessment. Students apply writing and speaking strategies to literature and other texts to increase language production.

 

ESL Level 4                                                                            Level: College Prep               #20403                                                                                                                                                                  Credit: 1.0 (Full-Year)

The course is designed for students at the high expanding and bridging levels of English language proficiency who need an additional year of English language support.  All four areas of second language acquisition are included.  However, the main focus of this course is writing informative, persuasive and explanatory texts which examine and convey complex ideas across the content areas.  ESL 4 students are enrolled in a grade appropriate English course.

 

Independent Study: ESL                                          Level: College Prep

 #20993                                                                      Credit:  .5, (1 Period, Semester Course)  

A student may be recommended for this course by ESL teachers.  Students may request this course, but require with parental/guardian, teacher, and the curriculum director’s permission.  Interested students may obtain an Independent Study Request Form in the Main Office.

 

Intro to US History I                                                 Level: College Prep

#22104                                                                        Credit:  1.0 (Full-year)

The content of this course is designed for English learners at the Entering and Emerging stages of English Language Development.  The course focuses on the most important concepts included in the school’s mainstream U.S. History I course and embeds English Language Development into the content curriculum.  Students will examine the historical and intellectual origins of the United States developed from Western Europe through the Revolutionary and Early Republic eras.  Students study the framework of American Democracy; analyze key documents including the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, and the basic concepts of American Government. The course then traces America’s westward expansion, the establishment of political parties, economic and social change, sectional conflicts, the Civil War, and Reconstruction.  As a part of the curriculum, students will engage in a community service learning project throughout the school year.  In collaboration with the nonprofit organization Generation Citizen, students will discover, research, plan, and implement a project.  Northeastern and Tufts undergraduate students partner with teachers to foster civic participation and youth advocacy.  This project helps students become skilled in the areas of democracy, governmental process, public policy, advocacy, and action. The project is closely aligned with the content of the USI curriculum and will be an integral part of the student’s assessment and final grade.  All four domains of language acquisition, listening, speaking, reading and writing, are emphasized through content-based instruction.

 

Intro to Biology                                                         Level: College Prep

#23104                                                                        Credit: 1.0(Full-year)

The content of this course is designed for English learners at the Entering and Emerging stages of English Language Development.  This course focuses on the most important concepts of biology  that are outlined in the Massachusetts Frameworks for Science and embeds English Language Development into the content curriculum.  Specific areas of study are: the cell, genetics, biochemistry, life functions, and ecology. Strategies needed to successfully pass the Biology MCAS will be stressed.  All four domains of language acquisition, listening, speaking, reading and writing, are emphasized through content-based instruction.

 

Intro to Environmental Science                                                        Level: College Prep

#23513                                                                        Credit: 1.0(Full-year)

The content of this course is designed for English learners at the Entering and Emerging stages of English Language Development.   In this course, students will explore and investigate the interrelationships of the natural world, identify and analyze environmental problems, birth natural and human-made, evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them.  Students will participate in hands-on, laboratory and field investigations to apply scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies in order to better understand our natural systems and to critically think about environmental issues and potential solutions.

 

Intro to Math 1                                                                                      Level: College Prep

# 21173                                                                                               Credit:  1.0 (Full-year)

Prerequisite:  Student’s ELL status is ELL1

The content of this course is designed for English learners at the Entering and Emerging stages of English Language Development.  This course focuses on the same standards as mainstream Math I CP, but embeds English Language Development into the content curriculum.  Students take the same Midterm and Final exams as those administered in the mainstream Math 1 CP sections. All four domains of language acquisition, listening, speaking, reading and writing, are emphasized through content-based instruction.

**These courses, when successfully completed, earn students credit toward graduation.  This course can fulfill the requirements of graduation through the analysis of competency and assessment data.