english-language-learners
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Languages Enrich Lives
1 John 4:5 "They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them."
The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board welcomes and embraces the rich cultural and linguistic diversity that our English Language Learners bring to our school communities. Students are encouraged to maintain their cultural and linguistic traditions by speaking, reading and writing in their home language(s). Continued literacy development in first languages strengthens second language acquisition.
Supporting English Language Acquisition
The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board offers support to students whose first language is a language other than English or is a variety of English significantly different from that used for instruction in Ontario schools.
English Language Learners (ELLs) include…
Source: STEP- A Guide for Users, pg. 7
Language Proficiency Assessment in Schools
STEP or Steps to English Proficiency:
- STEP is a Ministry resource used by Dufferin-Peel to track the English proficiency of our ELLs. It uses a framework to track progress for in learning English in the areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing.
- STEP levels are NOT USED to determine report card grades. (STEP – A Guide for Users, pgs. 10 & 25).
English Language Acquisition Programs and Services:
Elementary Support Models:
The program for students (ESL or ELD) and their STEP placement is based on initial and/or ongoing assessments and observable language behaviours. It usually takes a student 5-7 years to learn the academic language required for school, although this can vary from student to student.
Based on the results of individual STEP assessments, the ESL/ELD teacher and classroom teacher will determine the support model that best meets the language learning and academic needs of each English Language Learner (ELL). These models may include:
Elementary Support:
Secondary Support:
​New to Canada?
For more information, visit: Newcomer Reception & Assessment Centre
English as a Second Language for Adults
For more information on these programs, visit Adult Education: ESL and Citizenship
Language Learning
For more information about ESL and ELD Programs and Services, call 905-890-0708 ext. 24303.
For more information about ESL Adult Programs, please call 905-891-9263 ext. 37953.