Category Archives: ELL

United States: Feds Make ELLs a Priority for Tests Based on Common-Core Standards

The federal government, notes Education Week, is intending to provide grants for the development of English-language-proficiency assessments that are aligned with the national common-core standards. The proposed grant competition would push the country toward more uniformity for the definition of … Continue reading

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An Interview with Guofang Li (NNEST of the Month)

United States: Dr. Guofang Li is an associate professor of second language and literacy education in the Department of Teacher Education, Michigan State University. In this interview, conducted by the TESOL Nonnative English Speaking Teachers (NNEST – what a catchy … Continue reading

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California adopts the Common Standards

When California adopted the common core standards (the State standards initiative) in Ausgust, it didn’t accept the preface material, which included an introduction and spelled out how to apply the standards to English-language learners or students with disabilities. An advocate … Continue reading

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Speaking in Tongues: Bilingual Education and US Immigrant Communities

Consider the ‘divisive’ nature of bilingual education in American society: is it the natural representation of the functional and celebrated diversity of America, or is it an insidious wedge guaranteed only to sow rancor? This is the subject of an … Continue reading

Posted in Adjusting to a new language environment, Advice, Americas, Bilingualism, Discussion, ELL, News, culture shock, north america, united states | Leave a comment

Oprah: Do You Have the Courage to Listen to Teachers?

United States: A blog post responding to Oprah’s Monday show promoting “Waiting for Superman,” was widely read, and sparked a lively discussion. Valerie Pientka, a National Board certified teacher who read the post, shares a letter she wrote to one … Continue reading

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United States: The latest research on teaching science to ELLs

Researchers for the Center for Applied Linguistics have just documented the success of two interventions for teaching science to English-language learners, according to a research brief just released by the Center for Research on the Educational Achievement and Teaching of … Continue reading

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Value-added teaching and the LA Times

Much of the concern about value-added analysis of teachers in California, as exemplified by an already infamous LA Times feature entitled Who’s teaching L.A.’s kids?, comes from teachers and other advocates for urban schools that have been singled out under … Continue reading

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United States: Teaching science to ELLs

The United States, notes the NSTA, has long been called a melting pot, a place where diverse people mixing and mingling. Learning the dominant language is a challenging part of the process, particularly when a student is trying to learn … Continue reading

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English language learners making gains in the US

An associated press story notes that schoolchildren who are still learning English have made progress in state tests over the last three years, according to a report that may indicate tougher accountability standards have resulted in positive gains among a … Continue reading

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Debunking myths on US immigrant education

United States: Skirmishes over immigration often take place in the schoolyard, exclaims Rosemary Salomone in the Washington Post. Those opposed to immigration claim that bilingual school programs impair a child’s academic success and that school children who retain their foreign … Continue reading

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