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The children in Westfield’s English Language Learners (ELL) summer program were excited to learn the names of animals and experience a favorite American pastime as they headed for the Turtle Back Zoo with teacher Marie Moran. The next day, the children wrote about their visit. Credits: Westfield Schools
Westfield Schools' Summer Program a Success in Any Language
Saturday, July 21, 2012 • 6:00am
WESTFIELD, NJ - For some Westfield students, learning has not ended just because it's summer.
A group of students who are entering the first and second grade in the fall have been participating in the Westfield Public School district's third week of a federally funded summer program geared toward students whose primary language is not English.
The nine participants in program include English Language Learners (ELL) students who are entering first and second grade, as well as two secondary students who volunteer their time as teachers' helpers. The students speak Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, and Ukrainian.
“Since most of our students return home after the last day of school in June and do not use English again until September, the purpose of the program is for our ELL students to continue their exposure to the English language and American culture during the summer,” explained Westfield’s ELL teacher, Marie Moran.
The program encourages students to use English through singing, dancing, drawing, writing, reading, learning about animal life, and socializing with their peers. Each day the lessons are designed to promote language learning through enrichment.
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