1. English as a Second Language
Jill Ungaro
Grand Island Schools

2. Acronyms ELL- English Language Learner
ESL- English as a Second Language
LEP- Limited English Proficient
L1, L2- 1st & 2nd Language

3. Definitions Limited English Proficient- English as a Second Language
Pupils who by reason of foreign birth or ancestry, speak a language other than English
1) Understand and speak little or no English
2) Score below the state wide reference point or is equivalent on an English language assessment
English as a Second Language
The development of listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in English by specially trained teachers using specially designed material. Appropriate situational use of language and gestures are also promoted.

4. Bilingual Education Children learn academics in both languages
Bilingual does not mean Spanish and English
Need 20 children of the same age and language to have a bilingual program
Most successful students are ones that who can think in two languages
Every year people vote on whether or not to end Bilingual Education- Mass, AZ, CA, CO

5. Groups in the U.S.
Immigrants with comparable educational, cognitive and literacy development
US born ELLs who start school in kindergarten and have had exposure to English since birth
Recent arrivals with interrupted schooling in their L1 and inadequate educational preparation
Internationally adopted children with no L1 support at home
Students with no developed literacy skills in their L1

6. Most Common Languages in NYS
Spanish
Chinese ( Cantonese, Mandarin)
Russian
Urdu
Haitian
Bengali
Korean
Arabic

7. Common Languages in Grand Island
Punjabi German
Chinese Urdu
Spanish Thai
Albanian Polish
Greek Ukrainian
Dutch Korean
Russian Arabic
Tagloga

8. Identification Home Language Questionnaire Informal Interview
Language Assessment Battery- Revised
New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test

9. Requirements
Students are required to take all state assessments, including the ELA after one year and Regents exams
Test Modifications-
Extra time
Separate Location
Listening Read 3x
Bilingual glossaries/ translators

10. Required Levels of ESL Instruction
K-8
9-12
English
Proficiency
Level
ESL
ELA
Begin 2 3
Inter
Adv 1

11. Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills
Social, conversational language for oral communication
Approximately 2 years to acquire
Can comprehend social language by
Observing non-verbal behavior
Observing others’ reactions
Voice cues
Asking for clarification

12. Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency
Language in academic classrooms
Approximately 5-7 years in a quality bilingual program, some studies show that this can take from 7-10 years
Challenges
Academic language is often abstract
Less face to face interaction
Literacy demands are high
Cultural/ linguistic knowledge is needed to comprehend

13. Factors Affecting Second Language Acquisition
Motivation
First Language Development
Language Distance and Attitude
Access to Language
Age
Personality and Learning Style
Peers and Role Models
Quality of Instruction
Cultural Background

14. Stages of Second Language Acquisition
Pre-production
Silent period, more receptive than expressive language,
Students will be overwhelmed and exhausted
Pictures/ visuals

15. Early Production Students may speak in one or two word phrases
Ask yes/ no questions
Modify content
Focus on building vocabulary
Begin writing sentences
Use listening activities, read to the students and discuss information
Use high interest low readability books

16. Speech Emergence Short conversations
Will start to ask simple questions- Teachers should model correct grammar not correct it
Used modified texts
Journal writing
Build vocabulary
Begin using “wh” questions

17. Intermediate Fluency Using complex sentences
They will begin asking clarifying questions
Begin teaching grammar
Students may translate information
Students may begin reading independently

18. Advanced Fluency Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency
Will see language transfer in writing and cultural mistakes- Chinese do not use articles so this will transfer to the second language

19. Newcomers/ Beginning Level Students
Learn about the first culture to learn about taboos
Determine how much L1 schooling that the student has
Picture Dictionaries- a published one or make one
Bilingual Dictionaries- a published one or make one
Let students teach you their language

20. Continued
Allow beginners to draw pictures, write in their first language
Label the classroom in the L1
Teach basic vocabulary- school, body parts, colors, alphabet
Use bilingual materials or materials from their culture
Make a comfortable environment so the kids will speak

21. Challenges ELLs may face in a regular classroom
Idioms and figurative language
Homonyms/ synonyms
Grammar rules-exceptions to the rules, if students don’t know the grammar in the L1 they will struggle in the L2
Names
Teachers may speak to fast

22. Challenges continued No background knowledge No Literacy
Vocabulary-may know the words to hear but not to say, may not have words in the L1, like words for government or wars
Students may go home and spend time translating work
Teachers may not differentiate work

23. Suggestions for mainstream teachers
Grade more on effort
Modify assignments/ tests
Teach background knowledge
Be aware of cultural differences
Use visuals
Use simple directions
Teach vocab
Use multicultural materials

24. Culture Shock
Honeymoon Stage- students are very excited about being in a new place
Culture shock stage- students are confused by their new surroundings
Integration stage- begin to deal with new life
Acceptance stage- becoming comfortable with the new culture

25. Culture Shock Students may go through a silent period
Students may not be used to switching classes or using lockers
Students may not be used to being in school with the opposite sex
Students may not “fit the profile”

26. Parent Involvement
Parent involvement varies because of culture and language ability
We translate notes and bring translators in for meetings
Encourage parents to come in as room helpers, discuss holidays, etc.
Encourage parents to use first language at home