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Education.com - print
4/1/2014
Education.com - print
Situational or environmental factors have to do with issues external to the child, including the particular teaching style, the class and school setting, and the quality and extent of exposure to English. Within the academic setting, are ELL students getting enough exposure to native English speakers as they work in class, or are they working only with other non-native speakers? Krashen (1982, 1985) discusses the students? need for adequate exposure to the target language, and comprehensible input, or language that is slightly beyond the level which students can themselves produce. One of the observations made by many international school teachers is that second language students are only exposed to English during school hours, unless English is also spoken in the community environment. And for students in a pull-out program or ELL reception class, exposure to the speech of native language models is limited to the class teacher. Prior language development and competence in it also seem to be key in determining how well a student acquires English as a second language. It is generally accepted that adequate linguistic and cognitive development in a home language contributes positively to second language learning (Cummins, 1986). Thus, there is a recognition of the importance of the quality of language with which children come to international schools, i.e. the language within the home, and the length of time children have had to establish competence in their native tongue. However, despite native language competence, it is unlikely that students will achieve native-like pronunciation in a second language after the age of 14.
4/1/2014
Education.com - print
Myth #1: Students can learn English quickly by being exposed to and surrounded by native language speakers.
http://www.education.com/print/who-ell-english-language-learner/
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4/1/2014
Education.com - print
Fact: Mere exposure to the target language is insufficient to ensure native language proficiency, particularly academic language proficiency. Collier?s (1989) research on ELL students in the United States found that whereas grammatical proficiency may be established in two years, academic competence comparable to that of native language peers takes much longer, between five and 10 years. There is some evidence that this period may be shorter in international schools (Sears, 1998), but again, not simply by being surrounded by native language speakers.
Myth #2: The ability to converse comfortably in English signals proficiency and means the child should be achieving academically.
Fact: It is easy to confuse conversational competence with academic competence in a language (Baker, 1995). Proficiency in social language interaction in English is not the most important factor in school success (Collier, 1989). Spoken practice in English may not be necessary for development of English proficiency and may retard it in some instances. Emphasis on interpersonal communication may even inhibit academic achievement (Saville-Troike, 1984), as noted in Myth #3.
Myth #3: Students should learn English before attempting to study an academic subject in that language.
Fact: While pull-out or beginning ELL classes may offer a measure of comfort to ELL students, much of the "survival English" taught in these classes focuses on the language of social interaction. This, in fact, does little to assist the student in learning an academic discipline. Academic disciplines have their own vocabularies and their own expectations for satisfactory performance and these are rarely taught outside the subject area, other than perhaps in sheltered content courses. Academic strategies (e.g. for completing assignments, even with incomplete comprehension) need to be learned in connection with studying the discipline itself so that the student develops concepts rather than simply coping mechanisms.
Myth #4: ELL students should stop speaking their native language and concentrate on speaking English.
Fact: Full proficiency in the native language facilitates second language development and academic achievement is significantly enhanced when ELL students are able to use their native languages to learn in school (TESOL, 1999). Collier (1989) found that second language students who achieved the greatest academic success were enrolled in bilingual programs that provided solid cognitive academic instruction in both the first and second language. Baker (1995) also notes that to deny the native language of an individual is to deny that person?s existence.
4/1/2014
Education.com - print
According to TESOL, effective education for ELL students comprises five dimensions, which we endorse for inclusive, international schools: * Effective education includes native-like levels of proficiency in English. * Effective education includes the maintenance and promotion of ELL students? native languages in school and community contexts. * All educational personnel assume responsibility for the education of ELL students. * Effective education also calls for comprehensive provision of first-rate services and full access to those services by all students. * Knowledge of more than one language and culture is advantageous for all students.
http://www.education.com/print/who-ell-english-language-learner/
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