Intro to English Language

Learners

Soyou are a beginning

classroom teacher
What do you need to know
about ELL??

Survival Guide

The top 8 things you

need to know about
ESL as a beginning
classroom teacher

1. Know your terms

ELL vs. ESL
ELL: English Language Learner
ESL: English as a Second Language
ELP? LEP?
Any student that speaks a language

other than English at home takes an

English language proficiency test
ESL describes the services that are
available to LEP students

2. The Can Do WiDA

Descriptors
If you have LEPs, learn the English proficiency

levels for the following areas:

Listening
Speaking
Reading
Writing

More specific Can Dos for grade levels can

be found at the following link:

http://www.wida.us/standards/CAN_DOs/

3. Learn how people develop

and acquire language
Stage 1: Pre-production
Stage 2: Early production
Stage 3: Speech emergence
Stage 4: Intermediate fluency
Stage 5: Advanced fluency

Quick assignment
Each group will be given a stage

of language
acquisition/development
In a short 1-minute presentation,
please illustrate the type of
interaction that might go on
between teachers and students
in a classroom.

4. BICS vs. CALP

BICS: Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills
Language skills needed in day-to-day, social

situations in order to interact with others.

ELLs at recess, lunch, etc
6 months to 2 years
Can be misleading when it appears ELLs display
good English skills
CALP: Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency
Formal academic learning
Listening, speaking, reading, and writing about

content
Needed for success in school
5 to 7 years (with native language support)
Skills: comparing, classifying, synthesizing,
evaluating, inferring

5. Create an ELL-friendly
classroom
Learn how to pronounce students name

CORRECTLY
Set up a conference with the parents (if
possible)
Label objects (upcoming assignment)
Incorporate words or phrases from the
students native language into your lessons
and activities
Really useful translation link (although not
perfect): http://www.freetranslation.com

6. Methods, Modifications,
Strategies
Remember to speak slowly. Be sure to let the

student see the movement of your mouth.

If possible, partner newer ELL student with a
stronger LEP student.
However, avoid the crutch!!!
The 3 Rs. Routine, routine, routine.
Introduce vocabulary in meaningful ways.
Who else is this effective for?
Use graphic organizers! Who else is this
effective for?
http://www.graphic.org/goindex.html

7. Use your ESL teacher as a

resource
Teacher can explain your ELL students

proficiency
Helps to create your expectations
Could serve as a middle-man (or woman)
between school and home
Remember, ESL teachers are not
necessarily bilingual
While ESL teachers have their own goals
for their students, they can assist
mainstream teachers

8. Know and use testing

modifications
English/Native language dictionary or

electronic translator
Multiple testing sessions
Scheduled extended time
Student reads test aloud to self
Teacher (ESL or classroom) reads test
aloud to student
Testing in a separate room (individual or
small group)