LANGUAGES in EDUCATION

ESOL Programs ESOL: English for Speakers of Other Languages History Bilingual Education programs Strategies

What is ESOL? Intensive literacy instruction for students who are non-native speakers of English Goal: to exit students at an English proficiency level where they can succeed in mainstream Focus on “basic interpersonal communications” (BICS) AND “cognitive academic language proficiency” (CALP)

History Lau Vs. Nichols: schools must provide specific programs Bilingual education began in the ‘60s-’70s due to increase in number of children with Limited English Proficiency (LEP)

Different Bilingual Education Programs ESOL students IMMERSED in the classrooms with English-speaking students “Pullout Model”: ESOL students are taken from their regular homeroom during the day to be taught “English” in a SEPARATE classroom for 60 minutes each day. New Instruction Model: provides for co-taught or sheltered content area instruction in ESOL levels 1-3 Transitional Language Program: establishes a 3 year goal for transitioning students into classroom environments where English is the primary language of instruction.

(continued) Welcome Centers: one-year programs where students take lessons not only in English, math and writing but also in how to work a school locker and how to order lunch without violating their religious dietary edicts. LeapFrog School House Literacy Centers: LeapDesks and LeapPad platforms supply students with additional guided practice, featuring headphones to enable them to hear individual phonemes.

Strategies Use gestures and body language Repetition, slow speech, restating, controlled vocabulary, paraphrasing Peer tutoring Use pictorial forms (graphs, charts, etc.)

More strategies Provide hands-on experiences Use cooperative learning activities Use role-playing Adjust, modify, or shorten assignments Provide easy-to-understand steps

Technological Strategies LeapDesks and LeapPad: multiple repetitions so students can hear sounds pronounced correctly as often as they need; visual and auditory feedback. Use of multimedia Networked note-taking Videoconferencing and distance education (on-line web courses)

ESOL programs in Florida To Qualify: green registration form; English proficiency tests within 20 days. Enrollment: 2-3 years Exiting: ONLY when student has demonstrated that he/she is ready to be mainstreamed (determined by homeroom teacher, ESOL teacher, and parents) Standardized Tests: if in the ESOL program for 1 year or less, may be exempted; if not, required to provide certain accommodations Different Grade system until exit of program: GP, SP, and NP