Incoming Fontana Unified high school students are strengthening their English language skills and building a peer support system through the Summer Language Academy pilot program, designed to prepare English learners participate in school socially and academically.
Adapted from a culturally and linguistically responsive model developed by Anaheim Union High School District and in partnership with California State University, Fullerton, the four-week program is bringing together 85 ninth- through 12th-grade students, using their home languages and cultures as a foundation for learning English. Lessons center on building conversational skills needed for class, while counseling and community-building activities help develop their confidence and explore different pathways in high school and beyond.
“Being in this Summer Language Academy changed the way I think because I learned that growth comes from learning new things, even if they are difficult,” incoming senior Gurpooj Singh said. “It also changed the way I learn because now I ask more questions, practice English every day and am learning from others. When interacting with people here, I have become more patient, confident, and respectful of other backgrounds.”
Students meet four days a week at Fontana High School to practice speaking and writing English through hands-on exercises as well as small- and large-group discussions intended to help them become more comfortable participating in class. Lessons are structured around oral language, literacy foundations, academic vocabulary, and school readiness…