ELL Student Development
Initial Assessment
Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas
The first step in the development of English Language Learner (ELL) students is the initial assessment of their English language level. The student's English language level assessment should measure the students ability to speak, read, and write the English language. The results of the student's initial assessment will vary between students, and will change over time. An ELL student is merging into a main stream student population that has an English language level that, not only has the ability, but has developed the skills, that allow main stream students to speak, read, and write.
Measuring the ELL student's ability to speak, read, and write English in an initial assessment provides for us the foundation for developing that student's merging into main stream education. Establishing a solid foundation on which the student can develop and grow is an important step to take toward helping the student develop in a positive way. If we can help the student merge, in a positive way, into main stream education, the ELL student should be able to succeed just as main stream students do. The ELL student that is properly assessed initially should have a greater chance of successfully become a Fluent English Learner (FEL) than one who is not properly assessed and is wrongfully placed in the merging path toward English language fluency.
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