english language learners in school

Who Are English Language Learners?

Most ELLs were born in the U.S.-a smaller percentage emigrated here

Immigrants and their children: To have a better life To get away from war To unite with their families For educational/economic purposes

Getting To Know Language Learners

Getting basic information about students: Personal information Prior school experience?

Literacy in their home language? Home culture- research!

Classroom activities: Autobiography Dialogue journal Specific themes

Effect of Cultural Differences on Teaching and Learning

Teacher is both observer of & participant in class culture:Notice cultural differences and try to interpret them

Sociolinguistic interactions in the classroomObserve ~ Listen ~ Keep your own journal/notes

Culturally related responses to classroom organizationTeach expected behavior for each participation

structure Literacy traditions from home and community

Some students do and others do not have prior schooling experience in the first language.

How to Help Newcomers

Safety and security Assign a personal buddy Follow predictable classroom routines Develop a support system for each child

Creating a sense of belonging Assign a “home group” table Provide familiar language texts in the

classroom Value special cultural

knowledge/experience

What is “Culture Shock”?Students NEW to the culture of the classroom may

experience “culture shock.”

4 Stages of “Culture Shock”1. Excitement : “honeymoon” stagevery positive about the new culture 2. Withdrawal : “frustration” stagethings appear different, strange and difficult

3. Adjustment: “understanding” stagea routine develops, less isolated, more confident4. Enthusiasm: “acclimation” stagefeeling 'at home‘ and functioning well in new culture

Cultural Values - Considerations

Peregoy, page 10

Family-

Life-

Relationships-

Discipline-Time/Space-

Religion-

Food-Health/Hygiene-History/Traditions-

Policy Trends Affecting Education of ELLs

Academic standards and assessment movement◦ Congress found in 1983 that improvement

was needed- formed the NAEP program(National Assessment of Education Progress)

High-stakes testing is now used nationwide◦ No-Child Left Behind (NCLB), 2001◦ Socioeconomic status correlates to test-

scoresEducation policies/Standards for ELLs

◦ World-class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) TESOL English Standards

Standards & Assessment in Texas

TEKS : Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills◦ Standards for content learning at each grade

TAKS : Texas Assessment of Knowledge & Skills◦ Assessments for content learning at each grade

English Language Learners also get:ELPS: English Language Proficiency Standards

◦ Standards for language proficiency learning at each level of development (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Advanced High)

TELPAS: Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System◦ Assessments for language learning progress at each

level of development

ELL students – Guidelines/Identification

Overarching goals of federal guidelines:1) Teach English 2) Provide access to curriculum

How are ELL students identified? Multiple assessments are administered at the

beginning of the school year Assessments determine if English language

proficiency is sufficient to “access and process the curriculum content without support”

If not, students are granted the ELL status

ELL / LEP / ESL : DefinitionsEnglish Language Learner (ELL)

"Student of limited English proficiency (LEP)" is a student whose primary language is other than English and whose English skills are such that the student has difficulty performing ordinary classwork in English. LEP and ELL (English language learner) are used interchangeably.

English as a Second Language (ESL) English is the only language used as the

medium of instruction Four program examples in textbook

Requirements for ELL students in Texas

Texas State Education Code: Districts with enrollment of 20 or more

ELL students in any language classification in the same grade level shall offer a bilingual education or special language program.

Bilingual education is required in Grades K-6

Bilingual education, instruction in ESL, or other transitional language instruction in Grades 7-8

Instruction in ESL in Grades 9 through 12.

817,165 ELL students in Texas (2010)

ESL vs. Bilingual EducationESL

English is the only language used as the medium of instruction

Four program model examples in textbook

Bilingual Education English and another language used as

the media of instruction. Five program model examples in

textbook

Types of Bilingual Programs

Bilingual Programs are either:Additive: Both home language and target language (English

in the U.S.) are developed concurrently with the goal of proficiency in both languages.

OR

Subtractive: Target Language (English in the U.S.) is developed

with a gradual shift away from knowledge/identity with the home language.

Reference Source: Peregoy, S. & Boyle, O., (2008) Reading, Writing, and Learning in ESL: A

Resource Book for K-12 Teachers, 5th Edition, USA: Pearson.