Helping English Language Learners Orientation for Teachers
6- Reaching
• specialized or technical language reflective of the content area at grade level
• a variety of sentence lengths of varying linguistic complexity in extended oral or written discourse as required
by the specified grade level
• oral or written communication in English comparable to profi cient English peers
5- Bridging
• specialized or technical language of the content areas
• a variety of sentence lengths of varying linguistic complexity in extended oral or written discourse, including
stories, essays or reports
• oral or written language approaching comparability to that of English proficient peers
4- Expanding
• specific or some technical language of the content areas
• a variety of sentence lengths of varying linguistic complexity in oral discourse or multiple, related sentences or
paragraphs
• oral or written language with minimal phonological, syntactic or semantic errors that do not impede the overall
meaning of the communication when presented with oral or written connected discourse with sensory, graphic or
interactive support
3- Developing
• general and some specific language of the content areas
• expanded sentences in oral interaction or written paragraphs
• oral or written language with phonological, syntactic or semantic errors that may impede the communication,
but retain much of its meaning, when presented with oral or written, narrative or expository descriptions with
sensory, graphic or interactive support
2- Beginning
• general language related to the content areas
• phrases or short sentences
• oral or written language with phonological, syntactic, or semantic errors that often impede the meaning of the
communication when presented with one- to multiple-step commands, directions, questions, or a series of
statements with sensory, graphic or interactive support
1- Entering
• pictorial or graphic representation of the language of the content areas
• words, phrases or chunks of language when presented with one-step commands, directions, WH-, choice or
yes/no questions, or statements with sensory, graphic or interactive support
• oral language with phonological, syntactic, or semantic errors that often impede meaning when presented with
basic oral commands, direct questions, or simple statements with sensory, graphic or interactive support.
What is Language Proficiency?.
All new learners of English progress through the same stages to acquire language. However, the length
of time each students spends at a particular stage may vary greatly.
•Listening- process, understand, interpret, and evaluate spoken language in a variety of situations
• Speaking- engage in oral communication in a variety of situations for a variety of purposes and
audiences
• Reading- process, understand, interpret, and evaluate written language, symbols and text with
understanding and fluency
• Writing- engage in written communication in a variety of situations for a variety of purposes and
audiences
At the given level of English language proficiency, English language learners will process,
understand, produce or use:
Teachers
Teachers