The Bellevue Public Schools’ English Learner (EL) Program is available to assist students in learning whose primary language is not English. With many multilingual students at East, the EL Program is one of the ways they celebrate increasing linguistic diversity across the United States, designed to improve overall English proficiency and promote academic success.
“The EL Program has parent/community Spanish liaisons to support parents with limited English,” EL Program coordinator Sue Fjelstad said. “ All cultures and languages are welcomed and valued.”
Since 2018, the number of English Learner students has continually increased, with BPS now having over 500 estimated ELs in 2025. According to this year’s EL Program Review, the percentage of students becoming proficient in English speaking is continuing to rise as well, going from 1% during the 2022–2023 school year to reaching 10% during the 2024–2025 school year.
“When you are bilingual, you see the world differently,” Spanish instructor Angelica Musil said. “There are currently 195 countries in the world. Knowing another language helps you learn more about the culture.”
The English Learner Program also incorporates other local groups to promote academic engagement. For example, they’ve partnered with organizations such as the Bellevue Public Library, Metro Community College, Bellevue Together, OneWorld Health, and the Sarpy Chamber of Commerce to connect with their community through the program and host events.
“Additional programs, such as PADRES (an organization that involves Latino parents with their children’s education and learning) and the Family Literacy Center are offered for EL parents to promote connections between home and school,” Fjelstad said. “Through Family Literacy programming families are invited to engage in their child’s education through various activities. BPS works with families and utilizes resources within the community to provide literacy strategies, programming, and resources for students and families.”
Musil spoke more about the benefits of speaking more than one language, saying that it can also give individuals more career choices. As stated by St. Augustine College, individuals who speak more than one language have up to a 35% increase in job opportunities because of their heightened communication abilities. She also said that multilingual people might also receive higher pay in future jobs compared to those who only know one language.
“Being bilingual not only helps with travel or job opportunities, but has mental health benefits as well,” Musil said. “Studying another language helps reduce the effects of dementia and Alzheimer’s, improves memory, slows decline in mental sharpness, improves critical thinking skills, and improves creativity. It has also been shown to help with processing skills in Math and English.”
On top of these benefits, being multilingual can also give people an outlet to connect with their culture. An article from Language Magazine, Blurring the Line Between Language and Culture, suggests that language and culture go hand in hand, with speech being more than just means of talking. For example, junior Ayen Arok is multilingual, her two primary languages being English and Dinka.
“I speak Dinka, it’s an important language because it’s something that brings me so much closer to my ancestors,” Arok said. “The thing that I like most about my language is how each word has its own flavor and unique texture.”
