Will County Gazette

The Joliet Township School District Board of Education received an update during its January meeting on the English Language Learners (ELL) Program for foreign language-speaking students.

During the meeting, streamed on YouTube, Curriculum Director Paul Oswald told the board the hybrid program started two years ago with a focus of reading. A goal of the program is to help students become more proficient in English to become truly bilingual and strengthen their native language skills along the way. The program is led by Oswald and Joliet Central High Principal Shad Hallihan.  

“Last year was the first time we did it,” Oswald said during his presentation. “We still need to get some professional development on it to really make it more effective. It's effective, but I think it's more than just the online portion.”

Oswald also noted during the presentation that the program, while keeping cultural connections, helps direct students into regular programs once their English is strong enough. A key, he told the board, is to get teachers to drive the interaction and assist to help in other areas beyond reading and writing to include listening and speaking.

“And speaking is the one we really want to get our kids up and moving with,” he said during the meeting.

Moreover, Oswald told the board both high school campuses feature an ELL program, with a group in each grade level at both schools, except the senior class at West High. The program, he added, continues to see growth, from 40 freshmen each year to more than 100 at each campus involved in the courses.

Oswald noted during his presentation that in 2021-22, the district had 380 students participating in ELL services, and that has grown to almost 475 during the current school year. While many other students decline to participate, the district tries to put those students to co-op courses with students who are regular learners and ELL participants.

Ultimately, Oswald told the board that going forward, the ELL program will continue to reach out and may require additional support. The goal is to hire bilingual paraprofessionals to help students in the classroom and also to develop ELL professional development among teachers while enhancing bilingual resources and curriculum.

Oswald concluded that the program will also work with families to meet individual needs and also ensure it is sensitive to cultural issues.