ELDS & Language Proficiency Levels

•           Students vary in proficiency

•           Learning needs vary

•           Levels help teachers differentiate instruction.

•           Levels provide access points to content

•           The Proficiency Levels allow ELL teachers to collaborate with general education teachers on how to adjust instruction

Proficiency Levels

Both the ELDs (English Language Development Standards) and Language Proficiency Levels are identified as:

•           Beginning

•           Advanced Beginning

•           Intermediate

•           Advanced

•           Transitional—at this level, students are back in the general education program/classroom

Beginning Level of Language Learning
Approximate Time Frame: 0-6months

The student

•         Has minimal comprehension

•         Does not verbalize

•         Nods “Yes” and “No”

•         Draws and points

Teacher Prompts

1.    Show me…..

2.    Circle the…..

3.    Where is….?

4.    Who has ….?

Advanced Beginning
Approximate Time Frame: 6months -1year

  The student

•     Has limited comprehension

•     Produces one –or two word responses

•     Participates using key words and familiar phrases

•     Uses present- tense verbs

Teacher Prompts

1. Yes/No question
2. Either/or questions
3. One-or two words answers
4. Lists
5. Labels

Intermediate
Approximate Time Frame: 1-3 years

The student

•      Has good comprehension

•      Can produce simple sentences

•      Makes grammar and pronunciation errors

•      Frequently misunderstands jokes

Teacher Prompts

1. Why….?
2. How
3. Explain
4. Phrases or short sentence answers…..?

Advanced
Approximate Time Frame: 3-5 years

The student

•      Has excellent comprehension

•      Makes few grammatical errors

Teacher Prompts

1. What would happen if….?
2. Why do you think…..?

Transitional
Approximate Time Frame: 5-7 years

The student

•      The student has near native level of speech

Teacher Prompts

1.    Decide if….

2.    Retell…..