Teaching ESL Students

What You Need to Know

What is ELL
The state of Tennessee defines ELL
students as:
Those whose native language is other than
English and whose difficulty in speaking,
reading, writing, or understanding the English
language is an obstacle in classrooms where
English is the only language of instruction.

Whats in a Name?

ESL English as a Second Language

ELL English Language Learner
ESOL English as a Second or Other Language
ELD English Language Development
LEP Limited English Proficiency
FEP Fluent English Proficient

Identifying ELL Students

The way teachers and administrators can identify ELL
students is by administering the Home Survey with the
following questions:
What is the first language your child learned to speak?
What language does your child speak most often outside of
school?
What language does your child speak most often inside the
home?

Assessment Identifying current ESL Level

Students must be
given the CELLA
(Comprehensive
English Language
Assessment) to
identify their current
ELL level.

Levels are determined by

scores on the CELLA test.
There are three areas of
assessment:
1. Oral/Speaking& Listening
2. Reading
3. Writing

Placement based on scores (Grades K 2)

CELLA CUT SCORES

Grades K
Form A

Grades 1
Form A

Grades 2
Form A

Oral Skills

Advanced (A)
Intermediate - High Intermediate (HI)
Beginning - Advanced Beginning

666 or above
636 - 665
635 or below

692 or above
664 - 691
663 or below

704 or above
672 - 703
671 or below

Reading

Advanced (A)
Intermediate - High Intermediate (HI)
Beginning - Advanced Beginning (AB)

617 or above
544 - 616
543 or below

701 or above
645 - 700
644 or below

709 or above
665 - 708
664 or below

Writing

Advanced (A)
Intermediate - High Intermediate (HI)
Beginning - Advanced Beginning (AB)

668 or above
636 - 667
635 or below

705 or above
677 - 704
676 or below

709 or above
686 - 708
685 or below

Placement Continued (Grades 3 - 5)

Grades 3
Form B

Grade 4
Form B

Grade 5
Form B

Oral Skills

Advanced (A)
Intermediate - High Intermediate (HI)
Beginning - Advanced Beginning (AB)

716 or above
687 - 715
686 or below

723 or above
688 - 722
687 or below

724 or above
691 - 723
690 or below

Reading

Advanced (A)
Intermediate - High Intermediate (HI)
Beginning - Advanced Beginning (AB)
Beginning

715 or above
696 - 714
695 or below
Took Form A

721 or above
708 - 720
707 or below
Took Form A

727 or above
711 - 726
710 or below
Took Form A

Writing

Advanced (A)
Intermediate - High Intermediate (HI)
Beginning - Advanced Beginning (AB)
Beginning

718 or above
684 - 717
683 or below
Took Form A

723 or above
700 - 722
699 or below
Took Form A

727 or above
705 - 726
704 or below
Took Form A

Placement Continued (Grades 6 8)

Grades 6
Form C

Grade 7
Form C

Grade 8
Form C

727 or above
684 - 726
683 or below

732 or above
686 - 731
685 or below

Oral Skills

Advanced (A)
Intermediate - High Intermediate (HI)
Beginning - Advanced Beginning (AB)

723 or above
681 - 722
680 or below

Reading

Advanced (A)
Intermediate - High Intermediate (HI)
Beginning - Advanced Beginning (AB)
Beginning

741 or above
724 - 740
723 or below
Took Form A or B

747 or above
730 - 746
729 or below
Took Form A or B

751 or above
735 - 750
734 or below
Took Form A or B

Writing

Advanced (A)
Intermediate - High Intermediate (HI)
Beginning - Advanced Beginning (AB)
Beginning

740 or above
788 - 739
717 or below
Took Form A or B

743 or above
721 - 742
720 or below
Took Form A or B

745 or above
722 - 744
721 or below
Took Form A or B

Placement Continued (9 12)

Grades 9 - 12
Form D
Oral Skills

Advanced (A)
Intermediate - High Intermediate (HI)
High Beginner

739 or above
684 - 739
683 or below

Reading

Advanced (A)
Intermediate - High Intermediate (HI)
High Beginner
Beginner

761 or above
750 - 760
749 or below
Took Form A, B, C

Writing

Advanced (A)
Intermediate - High Intermediate (HI)
High Beginner
Beginner

738 or above
705 - 737
704 or below
Took Form A, B, C

Yearly ESL Testing with ELDA

Every ESL student must be
tested every year to establish
ESL level, growth, and yearly
progress.
Tennessee State currently uses
the ELDA to determine students
reading, writing, listening, and
speaking level for ESL
students.

Testing out of ESL is

determined the ELDA results,
and two other sources of
documentation proving students
proficiency.
Students must score a 4 to be
considered eligible for
promotion with two additional
sources.
If a score of a 5 is obtained
students may exit with
confirmations of grade level
proficiency with one other
source of documentation.

What is T1 and T2
When a student has passed the ELDA with a 4 or 5 they
are classified as T1 and exit the ESL program to be
monitored by the district for the first year of transition.
A T2 is if the student is successful for the year as a T1 the
district must continue to monitor them for one more school
year.
When a T2 is successful in the regular classroom without
ESL support he/she can be reclassified as a FEP or LEP.
T1 and T2 students are not entitled to any
accommodations/modifications for testing purposes

Retention Issues
ELL students must not be retained in grade
level because of their language skills.
Alternatives to Retention:
1. Remedial before - and after School programs
2. Tutoring
3. Summer school
4. Instructional Aids, and
5. Peer tutoring

Accommodation & Modifications

Accommodations

Extended
Time

Read Aloud
Internal Test
Instructions
in English

Modifications

Bilingual
Dictionary

Read Aloud
Internal Test
Items in English

Bilingual
Dictionary

Extra Time
(assignments/tests)

Reduce
Iength of
assignments

Tutoring
Pull-out/Peer

Accommodatin for ELL Students on Standardized Tests (see ESL guide for more specific instruction).

Modifications for ELL Students in Curriculum

Role of the Teacher

Become a student of
culture
Be sensitive to cultural
differences
Promote a multicultural
point of view
Allow students to become
students of culture

Classroom Support
Classroom support is
crucial for the
success of the ELL
student.
Simple and easy to
do activities that
offer support could
include the following

Curriculum material that reflect

a variety of cultural groups
Lessons that address different
learning styles and modalities
Visual aides and bilingual
resources
Role modeling/peer grouping

Methods of instruction
Interactive lessons with
hands on activities and
cooperative learning
Encouragement of
creativity and discovery
Versatility and flexibility
Enhancement and support
of the mainstream
curriculum
Opportunities for all
students to feel successful

Parents of ELL students

The parents of ELL students need support to:
Understand how U.S. school system works
Understand how local school districts and
schools operate
What is expected of them by schools,
districts, and personnel
Participate in their childs education

Things to Remember
English is not an easy
language to learn
Use a variety of methods
and strategies to support a
positive learning
environment
Be sensitive to cultural
differences
Provide consistency in
classroom regulations and
expectations

Resources

www.educationworld.com
www.tesol.org
www.kumc.edu/diversity/
www.englishclub.com
www.elearningguild.com/
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/esl/eslstud
ent.html

Bibliography
Tennessee English as a Second Language
Program Guide (2003)
State of Tennessee Department of
Education English as a Second Language
(ESL) Curriculum Standards (retrieved
January 2005)