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When I came to the United States I didnt speak English. When I satrted school, I had to enroll in ESL classes. Here is an article that explain the importance of this program

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The melting pot metaphor is stronger than ever in American schools today.

With 40 million foreign-born residents currently in the U.S., 17 percent of whom have entered the country between 2005 and 2012 - English as a Second Language (ESL) programs in are booming in public schools.

The National Center for Education Statistics cites an increase in students speaking a language other than English at home, from 4.7 million in 1980 to 11.2 million in 2009.

Students who are learning to speak English are called English Language Learners and often referred to as ELLs. Students who qualify for ESL programs are between three and 21 years of age, are enrolled in an elementary or secondary school, were born in another country and do not speak English as their native language. Their English proficiency skills prevent them from accessing the grade-level curriculum and correlated standardized tests administered each year.

When foreign-born students first enter the school system, they are assessed for their current level of English language proficiency. Schools often have families fill out a Home Language Survey to establish the child's native language and the language currently spoken at home. Instructors will also conduct an informal interview with the student in both English and the native language, if possible, with the parent present, if need be. A formal assessment, such as the ACCESS for ELLs, will be administered to assess the student's skills in the areas of reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

There are many strategies ESL teachers use to assist their students in learning English and familiarizing them with American culture. The use of visual cues is a tremendous support, as students may see the item or action being described. Technology has grown ESL instruction by leaps and bounds, as students can watch videos, engage in online language games, and gain hands-on practice hearing, watching, and speaking the English language. ESL teachers often work closely with other members of the school community to share their knowledge and to assist general education and special area teachers in fostering English language development in the classroom and throughout the school day.

Many ESL teachers also cite the importance of the home-to-school connection. Though many students learning English as a second language maintain their native language at home, it is important parents understand and be involved in their child's learning process.

In recent years, curriculum standards for ESL instruction have evolved, just as they have for general education instruction. The focus on ESL standards has been to connect students' English language skills to the content they are taught in the classroom and tested on each year. Now, educators have correlated English language proficiency standards to standards in areas such as language arts and math, which are assessed through state-implemented standardized tests each year.

In accordance with mandates from the No Child Left Behind Act, ESL goals must be aligned with general education content, and students must score in the proficient range on standardized tests by the 2013-2014 academic year.

The 2001 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, then entitled No Child Left Behind, brought more changes to ESL education. NCLB included Title III, officially named the English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement Act, which consolidated older federal programs, set clear benchmarks for ESL instruction and provided funding to programs based on enrollment. This act also mandates teachers receive high-quality professional development to foster their skills. The ultimate goal of Title III is to increase English language learners' academic success through these measures.

In September 2011, President Obama announced that schools could receive wavers for some aspects of No Child Left Behind in exchange for approved reform proposals. Some states have looked to take advantage of this opportunity.

The Center for American Progress released a paper by Theodora Chang on August 31 entitled "Using No Child Left Behind Waivers to Improve English Language Learner Education." The paper examines the need for advances in ESL instruction and the states who are aiming to find creative and effective solutions for this need.

New York is cited as an example of a state changing or adding elements to its approach to ESL instruction, such as developing ESL and language arts standards in tandem, generating curriculum modules in the five most spoken foreign languages in the state, and creating Network Teams, groups of educational experts whose purpose is to provide direct and consistent professional development for classroom teachers.

The continuously growing field of ESL instruction has demanded national attention and has generated a great need for highly qualified educators in public schools across the country. With some estimates saying one in 10 students in classrooms today are English language learners, there is no doubt this group of students has changed the landscape of education in America. As education reform remains a prominent issue at both the local and national level, the topic of English as a Second Language instruction will continue to be part of the conversation.

Jennifer is an educational consultant who works with families and educators to establish healthy and productive routines in the home and school. Adapting behavior management techniques she implemented for years as a special educator, she helps parents and teachers adopt these tools to fit their unique needs and priorities. Jennifer also speaks to parent and education groups on current topics in education and children's health. Visit www.jennifercerbasi.com

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Learning English as a second language in public schools

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The melting pot metaphor is stronger than ever in American schools today. With 40 million foreign-born residents currently in the U.S., 17 percent of whom have entered the country between 2005 and 2012 - English as a Second Language (ESL) programs in are booming in public schools

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We don't celebrate Halloween in the Dominican Republic. However, as immigrants, we adapted to the culture of the country that we live in. These are my two nieces dressed up for Halloween.

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This is one of my favorite memories. I love going to the Dominican Republic and going to the beach almost everyday. It is so fun. The beaches are also beautiful.

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This is one of my favorite dominican drinks. Juice of milk and orange juice.

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Morir Soñando (Milk and Orange Juice), a marvelous beverage that should be the official drink of the Dominican summer. It's a very easy recipe too, you could be enjoying this in no time!.

Morir Soñando (Milk and Orange Juice), an unusual mix with a beautiful, poetic name, is one of Dominicans' favorite drinks. Truly heavenly.

Its name means "to die dreaming", literally translated, and it could not have a more appropriate name. The silky combination of milk and the refreshing orange taste is what dreams are made of. The perfect drink to refresh and nourish.

Unlike many of our dishes, this is one that doesn't exist in the rest of the Spanish Caribbean; as far as I know (please let me know if you know differently).

The name Morir Soñando, at least, is uniquely-Dominican.

I haven't been able to track the origin of the drink, or how it came to acquire the name, but it's clear that it has existed for generations in the Dominican Republic.

There's an old wives' tale that says that people shouldn't drink milk and orange juice together. Morir soñando proves it wrong.

Without the special order of preparation specified in the recipe, the mix will curdle. Having all the ingredients cold before mixing is the trick. Sugar has nothing to do with it, so feel free to make yours with whichever sweetener you love.

And trust me, it will be grand.

Morir soñando is usually served as a dinner drink or a mid-afternoon snack.

As a bonus to the thirst-quenching, heat-busting goodness of this drink, it is also very nutritious, and perfect as a snack for the little ones.

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Morir Soñando - Recipe & Video: (Milk and Orange Juice)

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Morir Soñando (Milk and Orange Juice), a marvelous beverage that should be the official drink of the Dominican summer. It's a very easy recipe too, you could be enjoying this in no time!. Morir Soñando (Milk and Orange Juice), an unusual mix with a beautiful, poetic name, is one of Dominicans' favorite drinks.

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This is a picture of my family in Spain, behind is the building where I used to live. The lady in the middle is Tita, she is my father's wife. Even though she is not my mother, she raised me and inculcated me most of my values. The girl to the left is Tita's daughter from a previous relationship. However, she is also our sister. the other two, are my siblings. The children of my father and Tita.

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Even though my family and me do not attend the church too often, we identify as Christians. It is the main religion in the Dominican Republic, and also in Spain.

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My and my family adapted to the Spanish culture, but never left our Dominican culture behind. I attached a power point with slides of some of the celebrations and food we enjoy.

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I speak Spanish and English. Here is a voice note on how you say basic things in both languages.

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Majority of the time I was the only player of color in all my teams. This is a picture of the 2010-2011 season when I was, for the first time, part of the team with another black player. Even though I had a different skin color, my teammates never treated me differently for that. Race was not a issue in my basketball life.

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We are from the Dominican Republic, a tiny but beautiful island in the Caribbean.

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I love my family. They are one of the most significant things for me. This is a picture of my family from my mother's side. Here are my grandmother, two of my aunts and some of my cousins last Christmas in New Jersey.

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My parents are originally from the Dominican Republic. They immigrated to Spain 30 years ago. The Dominican population is now pretty large in Spain . I attached a word document with the exact number of Dominicans in Spain for the last two decades. the Document shows the drastic change in the population.

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I currently play basketball for Towson University.

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"From Madrid to the sky"
Madrid is a beautiful city full of diversity and culture, lovely people and outstanding historical places to visit.

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Book An Exciting Guided Tour In Madrid! http://http://www.madridcitytours.com/ Make the most of your trip to Madrid, the capital city of Spain, by taking a guided tour in Madrid to enjoy the colorful history and major attractions of this beautiful city. Madrid City Tours offers a wide array of Madrid excursions for individuals and private groups.

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I was born in Madrid, the capital of Spain!
Spain is located in the West of the European Continent, next to France and Portugal.