ELL Students and the Stages of Second Language Acquisition

1. ELL Students and theStages of Second Language Acquisition Presented by Evangelina Guerra

2. Levels of Language Proficiency • BICS Basic Interpersonal Communicative Skills 1 to 2 years • CALP Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency 5 to 7 years Cummings (1980)

3. Cognitive-Academic Language Proficiency (CALP) • Reading/writing connection • CALP needs to be connected very clearly to the known. • For ELLs to master CALP language, they need ample opportunities to orally practice the language.

4. Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills (BICS) • Everyday language • Communicative • Universal across all native speakers

5. Key Features of Proficiency Levels • Beginners: Little or no ability… • Intermediate: Limited ability… • Advanced: Can handle grade-appropriate English with minimal support • Advanced high: Can handle grade-appropriate English

6. Stage I: Pre-productionBeginners The silent period

7. Stage I: Pre-production (Cont.) Repeat every thing you say (parroting)

8. Stage I: Pre-production (Cont.) Copy words from the board

9. Stage I: Pre-production (Cont.) Physical Response methods will work well

10. Stage I: Pre-production (Cont.) Benefit from a “buddy” who speaks their language

11. Stage II: Early ProductionBeginners Speak in one- or two-word phrases Hello

12. Stage II: Early Production (Cont.) Use short language chunks that have been memorized

13. Stage II: Early Production (Cont.) Provide listening activities

14. Stage II: Early Production (Cont.) Support learning with graphic organizers, charts and graphs

15. Stage II: Early Production (Cont.) Build vocabulary using pictures

16. What Might a Beginner Listener Understand? Good morning, class. Today we are going to study something brand new in math class. It’s difficult, so I’m going to need everyone’s undivided attention. Open your booksto pageone hundred seventy-two. At the top of the page is the word “net.” Today’s lesson is about net. As it says in the definition in your book, in math, net is a two-dimensional model. The net of a cylinder is shown in your textbook. Does everyone see the rectangle and two circles? That is the net of the cylinder.

17. Stage III: Speech EmergenceIntermediate Ask simple questions

18. Stage III: Speech Emergence (Cont.) Initiate short conversations with classmates

19. Stage III: Speech Emergence (Cont.) Understand easy stories read in class with the support of pictures

20. Stage III: Speech Emergence (Cont.) Be able to do some content work with teacher support

21. What Might an Intermediate Listener Understand? Good morning, class.Today we are going to study something brand new in math class.It’s difficult, so I’m going to need everyone’s undivided attention. Open your books to page one hundred seventy-two. At the top of the page is the word “net.” Today’s lesson is about net. As it says in the definition in your book, in math, net is a two-dimensional model. The net of a cylinder is shown in yourtextbook. Does everyone seethe rectangle and two circles? That is the net of the cylinder.

22. Stage IV: Intermediate FluencyAdvanced Use more complex sentences when speaking and writing

23. Stage IV: Intermediate Fluency (Cont.) Express opinions and share their thoughts

24. Stage IV: Intermediate Fluency (Cont.) Ask questions to clarify what they are learning in class

25. Stage IV: Intermediate Fluency (Cont.) Be able to work in grade level math and science classes with some teacher support

26. What Might an Advanced Listener Understand? Good morning, class. Today we are going to study something brand new in math class.It’s difficult, so I’m going to need everyone’s undivided attention. Open your books to page one hundred seventy-two.At the top of the page is the word “net.” Today’s lesson is about net. As it says in the definition in your book, in math, net is a two-dimensional model. The net of a cylinder is shown in your textbook. Does everyone see the rectangle and two circles? That is the net of the cylinder.

27. Stage V: Advanced FluencyAdvanced High It takes students from 5-7 years to achieve cognitive academic language proficiency in a second language

28. Stage V: Advanced Fluency (Cont.) Most ELLs at this stage have been exited or ready to exit from ESL

29. Stage V: Advanced Fluency (Cont.) Need some support from classroom teachers especially in content areas such as history/social studies and in writing.

30. What Might an Advanced-High Listener Understand? Good morning, class. Today we are going to study something brand new in math class.It’s difficult, so I’m going to need everyone’s undivided attention. Open your books to page one hundred seventy-two.At the top of the page is the word “net.” Today’s lesson is about net. As it says in the definition in your book, in math, net is a two-dimensional model. The net of a cylinder is shown in your textbook. Does everyone see the rectangle and two circles?That is the net of the cylinder

31. Three Principles to Improve Achievement for ELLs 1. Instruction in the primary language aids achievement. 2. Instruction must have clear goals and objectives for language and literacy development. 3. ELLs require instructional accommodations. (adapted from Goldenberg, 2006)

32. Making Input Comprehensible • Use authentic language • Simplify teacher talk • Use non-verbal cues. • Stress student involvement: hands-on activities. • Use manipulatives, realia, and visuals. • Create a low-stress, friendly environment. • Use prior content introduction in the primary language.

33. Variables Affecting Second Language Acquisition • What individual (inside the ELL) variables may affect how quickly and/or how successfully a student can acquire English? • Prior schooling/gaps in schooling • Literacy in the primary language/CALP • Affective • Personality • Motivation

34. Variables Affecting Second Language Acquisition • What context (outside the ELL) variables may affect how quickly and/or how successfully a student can acquire English? • Teaching method • Learning environment • Materials • Class dynamics

35. Effective Instruction for ELLs Requires an understanding of and is guided by a knowledge–base familiar with: • Second language acquisition • English language proficiency standards • Key components of reading