Thank you for visiting this site to learn new information about ESL!  
 
What is ESL?  The letters stand for "English as a Second Language" and the program is a state funded, mandatory program for students who speak more than one language in their home.  A home-language questionnaire is provided to each family as they enter the district.  If a language other than English is spoken, the students then take a test to determine their level of speaking, listening, reading and writing in capabilities in the English language. 
 
The goal of the MCS ESL program is to give students the opportunity to learn the English language so they achieve success in school and in their personal lives.  While only English is spoken and taught at school, parents are encouraged to speak both English and their home language to students, so students can learn both languages and have the benefits of being bilingual.  According to many researchers, educators and early childhood specialists, the best time to introduce a foreign language is when the child is young, before language and speech patterns are fixed.  The potential benefits of speaking more than one language are enormous. Not only will it increase a child's understanding and acceptance of other cultures, but it will also improve comprehension skills in English. 
 
Parents are encouraged to learn English as well!  Any help that you can provide your child in either language will be helpful!  Why not try to take Adult English classes yourself!  Click on the link on the first page to learn more about Adult ESL classes available in the MCS community!