Language Acquisition Theory BEHS ALP PLAN

Acculturation Acculturation is the process of adjusting to a new place, situation, or language. Your ESL students will experience acculturation on many levels -- to the United States, to English, to American culture, to school -- the possibilities are endless. Knowing the stages of acculturation and what ESL students go through will help you understand them much better. Stage 1 Euphoria -excitement, enthusiasm and optimism for everything in the host culture Stage 2 Culture Shock -negativity ranging from irritability to hostility, from anxiety to outright panic -similar to the stages of grief Stage 3 Anomie -gradual recovery of equilibrium and objectivity -acknowledgment of positive and negative aspects of both cultures -identity crisis Stage 4 Assimilation or Adoption -acceptance of new culture -recovery of self-confidence and identity

Basic BICS—2 Years to Develop Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills-BICSBasic Interpersonal Communication Skills-BICS Social skillsSocial skills Face-to-face InteractionFace-to-face Interaction Developed through exposure to English speaking peers, TV, and schoolDeveloped through exposure to English speaking peers, TV, and school Personality variables—motivation, self-esteem, confidencePersonality variables—motivation, self-esteem, confidence This is the daily oral language students use to communicate in the new languageThis is the daily oral language students use to communicate in the new language

Cognitive CALP— 5-7 Years to Develop Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency- CALPCognitive Academic Language Proficiency- CALP Academic skillsAcademic skills Literacy related language skillsLiteracy related language skills Developed through reading comprehension, writing ability, higher order thinking skillsDeveloped through reading comprehension, writing ability, higher order thinking skills Primary language development influentialPrimary language development influential

Natural Order Hypothesis Average order of acquisition occurs reliablyAverage order of acquisition occurs reliably Grammatical structures are acquired in a predictable orderGrammatical structures are acquired in a predictable order Acquisition of the first language and acquisition of a second language are not done at the same rateAcquisition of the first language and acquisition of a second language are not done at the same rate

Pre-production First they listenFirst they listen Usually a Non-English Speaker or very limited based on IPT Tests—IPT Tests will be previewed laterUsually a Non-English Speaker or very limited based on IPT Tests—IPT Tests will be previewed later Student responds non-verballyStudent responds non-verbally Time: 10 hours to 6 monthsTime: 10 hours to 6 months 500 Receptive words (words they understand in English)500 Receptive words (words they understand in English) BICS are developing (playground language)BICS are developing (playground language)

Early Production Continued ListeningContinued Listening Usually a Limited English Speaker based on IPT TestsUsually a Limited English Speaker based on IPT Tests Student responds with one or two words and non- verballyStudent responds with one or two words and non- verbally Time: 3.6 months to 1 yearTime: 3.6 months to 1 year 1,000 receptive words1,000 receptive words 10% of vocabulary is expressive10% of vocabulary is expressive Continued BICS developmentContinued BICS development

Speech Emergence Usually a Limited English Speaker to a fluent speaker based on IPT TestsUsually a Limited English Speaker to a fluent speaker based on IPT Tests Many errors in speech patterns but the meaning is clearMany errors in speech patterns but the meaning is clear Time: 1-2 yearsTime: 1-2 years 7,000 receptive words7,000 receptive words 10% of vocabulary is expressive10% of vocabulary is expressive Continued BICS developmentContinued BICS development

Intermediate Fluency May seem fluent (based on IPT) but needs to expand vocabulary and CALPMay seem fluent (based on IPT) but needs to expand vocabulary and CALP Engages in dialogueEngages in dialogue Time: 3-4 yearsTime: 3-4 years 12,000 receptive words12,000 receptive words 10% of vocabulary is expressive10% of vocabulary is expressive CALP developmentCALP development

Pre-production: Student points to the picture of a/the correct answer Student draws a picture illustrating a concept Student matches items Student acts out/demonstrates answers Early Production: Student names answer Student matches one-word labels to answer Student states answers orally Student groups items Student responds to W (Who, What, When, Where) and yes/no questions Assessment Techniques by language Acquisition Stages

Speech Emergence: Recalling Retelling and restating Defining Explaining Comparing Summarizing and reporting Answering “how” and “why” questions Predicting Intermediate Fluency: Explaining how and answer was achieved (oral and written) Essay writing Expressing opinions and judgments Using figurative language (oral and written) Analyzing and explaining data (oral and written) Assessment Techniques by language Acquisition Stages