Academic Literacy for English Learners:

International Students,

Long Term English Learners

First Generation Students

Maria Timmons Flores

TESOL / Bilingual Education

Acquisition & Learning.

In L1, we acquire an understanding of the form and function of language through interaction with others and through exposure to text.

If there is match between home and school language, literacy development is facilitated.

For those who speak a language other than English or a non academic dialogue of English in the home, then the influences of the first language will be seen in L2 literacy.

For students who did not acquire academic language in the home, we can accelerate learning through explicit modeling and scaffolding using academic language and literacy.

Today I will talk about 3 different types of students

• Supporting International Students

• Long Term English Learners

• First Generation Students

International & Late Arrival Immigrant Students

Strong Foundation of Academic Language & Literacy in L1

History of Academic Success

L1 influences

• Linguistic Transfer

• Discourse Differences in Speaking and Writingbased on Cultural Expectations

Long Term English Learners(First generation students)

Fluent in social language

Achieving at level & rate of peers after 5 – 10 years in US Public Schools

May not have an accent

May not speak the heritage language

Without explicit attention to developing academic language and literacy,the gap widens through HS and into College

ESL students are disadvantagedESL students are disadvantaged

in academic achievement, applications, in academic achievement, applications,

scholarship competition, and inscholarship competition, and in

evaluations if they don’t knowevaluations if they don’t know

what English speakers expect.what English speakers expect.

Bricks: The language (concepts) specific to the discipline that we often teach explicitly

Think About: Academic Vocabulary

Mortar: The words that hold the bricks together that we often take for granted.

Writing Prompts: Specific vocabulary linked to differing analytic responses.

Examples: State a position, Use opposing arguments, recognize or address, anticipate reader concerns, explain.

Each of these requires the response to be constructed in a unique way in terms of analysis and evidence.

Strategies to support ELL (and other’s) writing:

- reading the genre as you learn to write

- very explicit modeling of the form

- explicit examples of expected differences L1 – L2

- focus on language

- structuring, promoting interactions

- making covert processes overt

- using graphic organizers - using writing partners for editing