English language acquisition terms and interpretations
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University of Wisconsin, –Parkside *
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335
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English
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Apr 3, 2024
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docx
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Uploaded by ConstableJellyfish23886
English language acquisition terms and interpretations
At Marshall High School, we use the term LEPS (Limited English Proficient Students).
Am not fond of the term limited within this acronym. It feels like the connotation deems them as unable to surpass a certain amount when, in actuality, some of them achieve as well as their native-English speaker counterparts in the high school during their 4-6 years the ESL(English as a Second Language) program. I , personally, prefer to use the acronym LESL for (Learners of English as a Second Language) which we use when referring to our student population orally even though the Ohio Department of Education uses LEP (Limited English Proficient) in
the required state documents for adolescents or adults acquiring English as a secondary language (ODE, 2015).
DLL (Dual Language Learners) is used to define students who are learning more than one language simultaneously and early in life. This term feels empowering. The students under this acronym label are tackling both languages and often have a longer silent period than learners of just one primary language (ODE, 2015). Effectively, both language will be learned as native languages (MDOE, 2024). I feel this term adequately expresses the type of English learner.
Unique to Illinois is the term EB (Emergent Bilingual) originating in 2019 Illinois State
law (ISBE, 2019). I like this term as it implies a continuum of language skill acquisition. I believe we all begin life as emergent learners, so this seems to be a very organic and natural acronym.
The United State Government defines levels of English Learners or ELs as the following: RA (Recently Arrived) if less than a year in the states, FEL (Former English Learner) for those who have mastered English and LTEL (Long-Term English Learner) for those who need extra time and are not yet at mastery despite completing all of the years in a program (New America, n.d.). These terms seem to be relatively straight forward. I appreciate
the differences denoted between the levels of acquisition.
References
Ohio Department of Education. (2015).
English learners
. Ohio Department of Education and
Workforce.
https://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Student-Supports/English-
Learners/English-Learner-Programs
Illinois State Board of Education. (2019).
Multilingual: English learners / bilingual education.
https://www.isbe.net/Pages/EL-Bilingual-Education.aspx
Maine Department of Education. (2024).
Multilingual learners
. Maine DOE Web.
https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/multilinguallearner
New America. (n.d.).
Education policy: English learners
. New America, 740 15th Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005.
https://www.newamerica.org/education-
policy/topics/english-learners/key-definitions/
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