English Language Learners

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

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 

For more information on these programs, visit Adult Education: ESL and Citizenship