Stages of acquiring

language
Modifications
Survival
Brochure
Stage 1: Pre-production
Silent stage
Not producing
language, just repeating
what is said
Stage 2: Early Production
One or two words
Use present tense verbs
Stage 3: Speech Emergence
Doesnt understand
idioms
Can produce simple
sentences
Stage 4: Intermediate Fluency
Few grammatical
errors
Begins thinking in
English
Excellent
comprehension
Stage 5: Advanced Fluency
Near-native level of
speech
Takes 5-7 years to
reach
How do we make modifications
to our teaching:
Speak slowly-see the
mouth moving
Partner newer ELL student
with stronger ELL student-
avoid the crutch
Routine, routine, routine
Introduce vocab in
meaningful ways
o Using both English
and native language
when possible
Testing
English/native language
dictionary
Multiple testing sessions
Students reading test aloud
How to be
prepared for an
ELL Student


By Megan Burton


BICS vs. CALPS
Affective Filter
The learner will have the tendency to block
out language input. Lowering the affective filter or
the anxiety the student experiences is the goal of
the educator.
Causing students stress elevates
students affective filter
Making students comfortable and safe
lowers the affective filter
The ELL student will be more responsive to
teaching and the language by lowering that wall

Comprehensible Input-Learners will learn best
when the input is appropriate
Should be easy enough for them to
understand, but challenging enough to
strive towards higher order thinking

Total Physical Response- Physically and vocally
expressing content. Act out movements so
students gets full understanding
Tapping your head when you say think


Basic Interpersonal
Communication Skills
Language skills needed
every day, social
interactions in order to
interact
ELL at recess, lunch-social
skills
Can take 6 months to 2
years to master
Cognitive Academic
Language Proficiency
Formal Academic learning
Listening, speaking, reading,
and writing
Needed for success in school
Skills: Comparing,
classifying, synthesizing,
evaluating, inferring
Can take 5 to 7 years to
master

Survival
Language
It is the imaginary wall
between the learner and
language. It is high when
the student is
experiencing anxiety or
stress.
Before they arrive
Step 1: Students in the class will create a
list of survival words for incoming ELL
student
Ex. Forming a line, recess, gym
Step 2: Make labels with English Words
for items in the classroom
Step 3: Make a word card for each
survival word, word on front, picture on back
Step 4: Create a box so the ELL student
can easily practiceWord Box
Step 5: Explain the silent stage so there
is no pressure to speak to other students
until they are ready
Step 6: Explain affective filter to
students
Step 7: Label other objects in the room
(English + native language)
Step 8: Demonstrate the concept of Total
Physical Response to students (Open the
door, close the door)