ESL and Bilingual Education

Department Chair: Alan F. Matan

• Phone: 847.827.6176 Ext. 5951
• Fax: 847.296.4916
• Email: amatan@maine207.org

If you are looking for information for Adult ESL classes, please contact the ESL Office of Oakton Community College at 847.635.1426.

There are currently 70 students from sixteen countries enrolled in the ESL Program at Maine West High School. Students are placed in one of five levels based on their English proficiency. The ESL/BE Program is a comprehensive English language program where the focus is on English language learning and literacy development in reading, writing, speaking, and listening with the goal to continue the students’ education and contribute to the social, economic, and political life of the United States. The curriculum focuses around WIDA, College Readiness, and Common Core State Standards. There is also a heavy focus on helping students integrate successfully into the academic and social life of the school.

Below are the specific ESL levels and courses taught within the ESL Department.

Level One

• Beginning ESL
• English Through Content I - Language Arts (Reading Elective credit)

Level Two

• Advanced Beginning ESL
• English Through Content II - Language Arts

Level Three

• Intermediate ESL
• Intermediate ESL Reading

Level Four

• Advanced ESL
• Advanced ESL Reading

Level Five

• Advanced American English Skills

Sheltered Content Courses are also offered to our English language learners in

• Fundamentals of Mathematics
• Extended Algebra - a 70 minute math class covering topics in Pre-Algebra and Algebra
• Science Explorations
• Biology
• World Cultures
• US History
• Government
• Oral Communications
• Consumer Education
• Health
• Spanish for Native Spanish Speakers I and II