Based on a survey she published, ELL coordinator Lisa Pokorny concluded that Elk Grove High School families reported 44 unique languages are spoken at home and 1,084 families in total indicated a home language other than English.

At Elk Grove, Pokorny spearheads the Multilingual Month to highlight our multilingual students and create a space that honors the strengths they bring. 

“The purpose is to honor our diverse languages, build a sense of belonging, and highlight the value of being multilingual,” Pokorny said.

Pokorny said she encourages all students to speak, read and write in their own language in many different ways, including various activities such as class activities, collaboration, projects and encourages more practice outside of school.

“We encourage students to use all their languages in the learning process to build understanding and share their ideas,” she said. “We create opportunities through class activities, collaboration, and projects, and encourage them to keep practicing with family and friends.”

In addition, she ensures that all students have a comfortable learning environment that supports their needs and helps build their confidence in their abilities.

“We support students by helping them understand their classes while building their language skills,” Pokorny said. “We use supports like visuals, word banks, sentence frames, partner work, and home language support. Most importantly, we build strong relationships and create a classroom where students feel confident, included, and proud of who they are.”

Pokorny believes languages help us connect with each other as individuals.

“Students’ languages are a strength that connects them to their culture, family, and identity. When they embrace their language, it builds confidence, supports learning, and helps them feel they belong,” Pokorny said.

Many students struggle to embrace their own language, but Pokorny encourages students to use their language as a strength, not a weakness.

“Your languages are part of your story and your strength. Speak them with pride because they are a gift,” she said.