Five Stages of

Language
Acquisition
Important
ELL: English
Terms!

Language Learner,
student

ESL: English as a
Second Language,
program available
to student
ELP: English
Language
Proficiency
LEP: Limited
English Proficiency

Stage 1: Pre-production

Silent period

Minimal comprehension

Stage 2: Early production

Produces 1-2 word

responses

Limited comprehension

Stage 3: Speech emergence

Produces simple
sentences

Good comprehension

Stage 4: Intermediate fluency

Makes few grammatical

errors

Has excellent
comprehension

Stage 5: Advanced fluency

The student has nearnative levels of speech

Teaching ELL
Student
Survival
Guide
Megan Leddy

BICS vs.
BICS: Basic Interpersonal
CALP
Communication Skills

Playground language

Language skills that are

needed in day-to-day social
situations in order to
interact with others

Can be misleading when it

appears to ELLs display
good English Skills

CALP: Cognitive Academic

Language Proficiency

Tips to make your Classroom ELL Friendly!

Formal academic language

Listening, speaking,
reading, and writing
content

Take 5-7 years to develop

with native language
support

Involves skills such as

comparing, classifying,
synthesizing, evaluating,
and inferring

Speak slowly
o

If possible, partner newer ELL students with

stronger LEP students
o

Learn how to pronounce students

names correctly

Set up a conference with the students

parents if possible

Label object in the classroom

Incorporate words or phrases from

the students' native language into
lessons and activities

If necessary, use a translator

Understand where the student is

coming from and do not try to push
them too hard right away

If you have LEP students, learn the

English proficiency levels for reading,
writing, speaking, and listening

Look at WiDA Can Dos for each grade

level for more tips

Routine, routine, routine!

Introduce new vocabulary in meaningful ways

o

Avoid giving the students a crutch in

the classroom

The three Rs of ELL are:

o

It is helpful for the students to see the

movement of your mouth

Effective for all students in your

classroom

Use graphic organizers

o

Visual representations are extremely

helpful!

Use your ESL teacher as a resource

Know and use testing modifications when

possible