ELL Student Development
Developing ELL Students
Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas
Time, Diversity, Culture, and Possibility are four aspects in the development of English Language Learner students.
From one day to several years, the length of time an ELL student will require, to successfully exit the program, will be varied from student to student. It takes time for students to develop the skills needed to successfully communicate in a new language. Some students arrive with advanced English language skills from prior education, while others will be experiencing a new language for the first time. With a program for ELL students that has been established, and is successful, the transition from "English Learner" to "English Learned" will be proper, prompt, and perfect.
How diverse is the new school and how familiar is the student with diversity? If the student has been introduced to diversity, then the student's learning, in a new education setting that is diverse, should be consistent. When going from a non-diverse school to a diverse school, or a diverse school to a non-diverse school, an additional challenge is presented to the students, and they must also adapt to this while learning a new language.
There are many levels of culture that an ELL student will face throughout their education. These will vary from academic to social, environmental to community, and many others. ELL students should learn how to include the many levels of culture they will be experiencing in their lives. By learning from both the positive and the negative, what is agreeable and disagreeable, students can develop a cultural level that is balance and helps grow their own cultural identity.
ELL students are the first true ambassadors that students observe, interact, and meet with. They have the potential of presenting their patronage in a positive light for others to see, while learning a new language, maintaining pace with their mainstream fluent counterparts, and as they attempt to achieve equal education.
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