ESL PROGRAM OVERVIEW

What is ESL? An English as a Second Language program is a free-standing language arts program for English Language Learners. (not a support service) ESL teachers are Language Development Experts who teach reading, writing, listening, speaking, culture plus content-area vocabulary and key concepts. They are experts in academic vocabulary, scaffolding, co- teaching strategies and community resources for ELLs. If you think of the variety of Foreign Language teachers and ELA teachers, you can compare them most closely to the ESL teacher. One of the differences between a teacher of a foreign language and an ESL teacher is that most students taking foreign language, at least in the US, share the common language of English. ELLs don’t necessarily share a common language.

ESL Student Identification c.pdf ELL Identification Chart c.pdf When a new ESL student enters a school district: The parents complete a “Home Language Questionnaire” and ESL teacher administers Informal Interview Questions: The student is tested by the ESL teacher using a NYSITELL Exam (beginning / February 1, 2014), if indicated.

Parent Letters & Conferences Principals mail parent letters home each September telling parents that their child is enrolled in an ESL program. Sample Parent Letter 2/Sample%20Parent%20Letter%20- %20154%20new.pdf 2/Sample%20Parent%20Letter%20- %20154%20new.pdf ESL parents participate in a Fall ESL Parent Orientation and parent conferences held during the year.

Update-ESL Progression Levels bilingual-common-core-initiative Currently 4 Progression Levels: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Proficient 5 New Proposed Progression Levels: Entering, Emerging, Transitioning Expanding, and Commanding s/February2013/213p12d3.pdf s/February2013/213p12d3.pdf

NYS Assessments All ESL students must take and pass the *ELA, Math, and Science assessments-with accommodations. *NYS now requires ESL students with more than one year in US schools by April 1, to take both the ELA assessment-with accommodations, and the NYSESLAT. All students must take the Regents exams-with accommodations. chedules/home.html Exam Dates chedules/home.html

State Assessments & Regents Accommodations For Students Extended time (1 ½ time) Use of bilingual glossaries or electronic translators Tests translated into Chinese, Haitian, Creole, Russian, and Spanish (by NYSED) Allowing simultaneous use of English and native language versions of the test *(if desired by student). Test translated by an interpreter, if it is a rare language. c-general/archive/flep- accommodations10-08.pdf c-general/archive/flep- accommodations10-08.pdf

NYSED Bilingual Glossaries Developed by NYSED in several languages for use in state exams and in classrooms. Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Arabic, Bosnian, French, Korean, Polish, Bengali, Serbo-Croatian lingual_glossaries.htm lingual_glossaries.htm

Foreign Language Credit ESL students can earn up to five (5) units of credit for schooling in their home language from age 11. Students must produce a transcript/grades that show they were attending school from the age of 10 + and be passing: 3 units at age 11 4 units at age 12 5 units at age 13 or older -qa.pdf See item #31 -qa.pdf

Credit for ESL Class High School ESL students can earn graduation credits for ESL class. Each district can decide the specifics regarding ESL credits earned. anting%20esl%20and%20lote%20credit%20f or%20ells.pdf anting%20esl%20and%20lote%20credit%20f or%20ells.pdf

Annual NYSESLAT Exam seslat/ 2013 NYSESLAT Guide seslat/ Includes testing in Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening taken over a 4 day period. Six testing levels: K, 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-12 Exams are given in April & May. The scores arrive in July. Test results are used to determine the required minutes of ESL per week: Ptable12-09.pdf ESL Time Requirements Ptable12-09.pdf

Threefold Challenge of ESL Students Grasping knowledge, skills, and attitudes specific to the subject areas A better command of the English language An ability to interact with others and function within the social environment of the school

How Can Parents Help? Make reading part of the child’s daily routine. Read to children in either English or in his/her native language. Take your child to the library and encourage the child to borrow books. Schedule time every day for the child to do homework and provide a quiet place. s/ Reading Tip Sheets for Parents s/ s/ Teacher Tip Sheets s/

BICS Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills (BICS) Can be acquired in fewer than two years. If only an oral assessment is done, the student may appear as commanding the English language. s/EDI%20112_Introduction%20to%20BICS.p df Introduction to BICS and CALP s/EDI%20112_Introduction%20to%20BICS.p df

CALP Cognitive/Academic Language Proficiency Skills (CALP) Skills needed to succeed in areas such as reading, writing, math, science, & social studies CALP will often require five-ten years for ESL student to perform at grade level

How Long Can a Student Receive ESL Services? Up to three years unless; An annual extension is requested from the Commissioner for up to six years. Then student become a Long-Term LEP. If a student scores as Commanding on the NYSESLAT, he/she exits ESL and performance is monitored for two years.

Comprehensible Input 40.php 40.php Understandable messages, called comprehensible input comprehensible input, are not communicated by words alone. Use multisensory input: visuals, realia, drawings, gestures, role-plays, graphic organizers. Model, demonstrate, restate and simplify language; introduce key vocabulary before the lesson.

ESL Resources

ESL Resources (cont.) For Teachers & Students Academic Vocabulary NYSUT Parent Guides chure.pdf Helping Your Child Succeed in School Parent Guide to the NYSESLAT Parent Guide to the Common Core 10 Ways-Promoting Reading at Home

Thank-you!