The English as a Second Language (ESL) Program at Hempfield is designed to provide instruction in the English language for students who are at different levels of English language acquisition.  The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) directs each school district to provide a core curriculum of ESL instruction for entering, beginning, developing, expanding, bridging, and reaching English language learning students.

There are six levels of English language proficiency that support instruction to our English Language Learners (ELLs).

• The Entering Level - ELLs are taking time to simply listen and take in the language.  They learn listening skills before speaking, reading, or writing.
• The Beginning Level - ELLs produce simple expressions and phrases and begin to comprehend basic stories and academic text with adequate support.
• The Developing Level - Basic social conversations and communications are becoming stronger.  A lot of support is still needed to comprehend academic texts with adequate support.  Vocabulary is increasing.
• The Expanding Level - More challenging academic material is comprehended and expressed in verbal and written formats.  Academic support in grammar and usage is an important focus at this level.
• The Bridging Level - Academic vocabulary is used with greater skill and manipulation.  Writing and vocabulary building in all content areas is emphasized.
• The Reaching Level - ELLs demonstrate English skills that are comparable to native English speakers.
• Exited and Monitored - These students have completed the ESL Instructional Program and are now supervised for two years as they engage in content area instruction.  Communication between the ESL and Classroom teachers supports the transition.
  

Countries Represented	Languages Represented
Armenia, Belarus, Bosnia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canary Islands, China, Colombia, Congo, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Iraq, Israel, Kenya, Korea, Laos, Mexico, Montenegro, Nepal, Niger, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Russia, Sudan, Taiwan, Togo, Ukraine, Vietnam	Amharic, Arabic, Armenian, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Cambodian, Cantonese, Chinese, Djerma, Ewe, French, Gujarati, Italian, Khmer, Korean, Nepali, Oromo, Portugese, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Swahili, Tagalog, Taiwanese, Tigringa, Ukranian, Vietnamese