ELL Education Lessons

When developing lessons for English language learners one should take into consideration the following four stages: Introduction, Presentation, Study, and Evaluate.  ELL lessons which incorporate these four steps will have a greater chance of being successful, as well as connecting with the learner on the area of the English language to be learned.  Furthermore, one should consider what aspect of of the English language the lesson will address.  For this purpose, ELL lessons should be focused on English language skills or English language knowledge.

If the ELL lesson that you are preparing will address English language knowledge, then break it down so that each of the four stages is included.  Introduction of the knowledge should begin with a review of the basic building blocks that the learner will need to succeed.  Be clear and through on your review so that the learner develops a good foundation.  Presentation of the knowledge should include a demonstration of such so the learner can comprehend how the lesson links to the English language.  Study with the learners the knowledge that you are presenting through the lesson, and allow them adequate time so that they can practice on their own.  Evaluate the learner's execution of the English language knowledge that has been addressed during the lesson.  This can be done through various methods of evaluation, and hold those who are unable to succeed accountable by having them go over the lesson again with the appropriate adjustments.

If the ELL lesson that you are preparing will address English language skills, then break it down so that each of the four stages is included.  Introduction of the skill can be achieved by having a review of the skill of the lesson.  Follow the introduction with a presentation in which you, and the learner, have the opportunity to give a demonstration of the skill of the lesson.  Have the learner study the skill, then have them practice under a variety of situations where the skills of the lesson can be applied.  Finally, evaluate the execution of the skill by the learner.  Present them with interactive ways in which they can show how they have mastered the skill, and how they can apply it to everyday situations in life.

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2014.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

ELL Education Curriculum

English Language Learner Education Curriculum is a process by which an English Language Learner (ELL) learns the English language.  This process can be varied, based on needs and resources available, to provide the ELL student with the opportunity to learn the English language.  ELL education curriculum must be assessed as part of this process.  This assessment should be done through a fair and equal measurement of the skills and abilities demonstrated by ELL students.  Assessment should clearly determine which ELL student meets the requirements to advance further in their English language learning.  It should also: Assess which ELL student has not yet met the requirements to advance, recommend how to review the curriculum with the learner, and reassess the ELL student.

Begin by establishing an introduction of the English language to the learner.  Use this introduction to develop a foundation of letters, phonics, words, definitions, spelling, usage, etc.  English language learners can then grow as students who learn how to build sentences, write papers, develop speech, make presentations, carry on a discussion, research their own research.  Create paths that allow for new ELL students to merge into the curriculum process.  Allow for students to be able to review each aspect of the process as necessary to succeed in the learning of the language.  The ELL education curriculum should also prepare students for further learning of the language.

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2014.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

ELL Education Benefits

What are the benefits of ELL Education?

English Language Learner Education provides many benefits for the students who participate in it.  Four skills which can be develop while participating in ELL education are: Language Development, Communication Clarity, Social Interaction, and Cultural Identity.  A well prepared ELL education program can help students develop these four skills, provided that the program is established on a secure, strong, solid foundation which can support the required framework needed to achieve success in learning the English language.  With these four skills students can create a foundation of their own, upon which they can build their future, as active members of the community.

Language Development

Language is the central aspect of ELL education.  Students should begin developing their language skills by growing their vocabulary.  They should also learn the correct spelling, use, and function of the vocabulary they learn as part of their language development.

Communication Clarity

The ability to communicate thoughts and ideas with clarity provides students the skills needed to be creative in the English language.  Students can show this creativity through their reading, writing, talking, and speaking.

Social Interaction

With language development and communication clarity, the student can begin social interaction with classmates.  These classmates then can become good friends who provide support for the student in and out of the classroom.

 

Cultural Identity

Through social interaction with others, students begin to develop their own cultural identity. They will search for those who share and respect their values.  Students will develop a clearer understanding of their own heritage and ancestry.

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2014.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

ELL Education Definition

Native English language learners are those who have develop their English language skills prior to birth, since birth, or early on during infancy.  They develop English language skills through interaction with others, and learn from parents, relatives, family friends, and other adults.  Native English language learners also further develop their language skills by attending available forms of education.  English can become the primary language of communication for the life of a native ELL, provided they live in an environment where English is supported by others as their language of choice.

Non-Native English language learners are those who, after infancy, begin to develop an awareness of, and the skills needed to communicate in, the English Language.  They develop language skills in a non-English language from a period which may begin prior to birth, since birth, or early on during infancy, and may continue to develop such skills as they are also learning English.  Non-Native English language learners can further their skills in their native language and English with education and interaction with others.  English can become the primary language of communication for a non-native ELL in a supportive environment.

English language communication success can be achieved when the learner reaches fluency.  Both native and non-native ELL's are capable of reaching the level of fluent in English, provided they develop a solid foundation of English language skills and can create an education based framework that allows them to communicate their thoughts and ideas with clarity.  ELL education is a carefully crafted path that learner can take and travel toward achieving the level of fluency.  This path should be designed with the goal of fluency and should take into consideration the variety of levels and non-English languages students have.  It should also be flexible and expandable to accommodate specific student needs and incorporate relevant research that serves the learner.

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2014.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

ELL Education Introduction

ELL Education Introduction

There is a diversity of languages across the world.  Some may be modern, technical, ancient, or of cultural origin kept alive by oral tradition.  When we become aware of the existence of other languages, that are foreign to our domestic one, we can become a learner of the language.  With effort of time and practice, along with guidance, we can successfully take on the challenge of learning an additional language.

What is ELL Education

ELL Education is a process by which the English language can be learned.  There are many unique and creative processes that have been designed and developed for a multitude of learners.  The ELL education process can be designed with a roadmap that guides the learner toward a clearly defined goal, and developed with a framework which integrates the skills of those who are willing to contribute by sharing knowledge, experience, ideas, research, time, etc.

Purpose and Objectives of ELL Education

With the roadmap and framework we can begin to apply the ELL education process.  This process should serve the purpose of allowing the learner to develop and demonstrate the ability to communicate successfully in the English language.  As a part of this process, learners should be able to achieve a variety of objectives like vocabulary development, reading/writing & talking/speaking skills, accurate pronunciation, understanding of the language, and any others which may be deem to be necessary for the learner to succeed in learning the language.

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2014.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

ELL Education

To understand English Language Learner Education we must agree on these two statements: Everyone willing to learn the English language is an English language learner.  Willing learners can be educated educated in the English language.  If we agree on the two prior statements, then we can begin to understand English Language Learner, or ELL, Education.

ELL Education is a process which can be implemented in classrooms, schools, and districts to help students achieve fluency and understanding while applying learned skills to communicate successfully in English.  This process can be design to meet the needs of the participants, with the resources and materials available, while managing toward the goals of fluency, understanding, and communication.

The design of this education process for English language learners can be as diverse as the students participating in it.  There are many road-maps, frameworks, and resources which are available and are in use by various educational agencies for educators to use as guides in designing an English Language Learner Education process that is successful.

English Language Learner Education can succeed in helping students achieve the goals mentioned above.  By assisting in the development of communication, ELL Education has the benefit of creating an exchange of thoughts and ideas.  These exchange is a necessary and important part of the development in society.

Author:  Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2014.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

March 2014

English Language Learner (ELL) Education is the theme that MRCR Education will be addressing throughout the month of March.   MRCR Education believes that English Language Learner Education is a beneficial process by which the learner can successfully achieve fluency and understanding of the language, while applying newly learned skills to communicate in English.

While everyone who learns English can be described as an ELL, there are two classifications to take into consideration when addressing ELL Education: English Language Natives and non-English Language Natives.  Learners in each of these classifications have a unique path to travel as they learn the English language, but both can benefit from each other as they have the same educational goal: Learning English.

Though the publication of post on our blog, MRCR Education will cover a variety of topics related to English Language Learner Education.  Some of these topics will include introduction, definition, benefits, curriculum, and lessons, in addition to experiences shared by those who identify as English Language Learners.

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2014.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

ELL Student Development: ELL Program

ELL Student Development

ELL Program

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas

The English Language Learner Program, should serve as a bridge, that allows students, who are identified as ELL, to merge successfully with their English fluent classmates, as they transition into a new school setting and learn the language.  A good ELL program should have a balance of language and culture understanding, and should serve, not just the student, but the family as well.  It should facilitate the involvement and participation of families in school.  In addition, a good ELL program is fully supported by the school and the district.

The responsibilities of the ELL program are not limited to the students and their families, but expand from classroom instruction and faculty training, to district policy implementation.  To an ELL student, the ELL program may be only a temporary transition in their educational path, but it has an effect that transcends learning English.  A successful ELL program can provide a school with an influx of students that add to the diversity of the school and can help the school prepare them to become successful in their academic pursuits.

Copyright 2012.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

ELL Student Development

ELL Student Development

Preview

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas

This week, MRCR Education, takes a look at English Language Learner student development. The topics for these theme are: 

1. Initial Assessment.  
2. English Language Learner Program.  
3. Final Assessment.  
4. Developing English Language Learner Students.

Each day MRCR Education takes a look at each of these topics to give an analysis on how each topic helps ELL students develop into main stream learners that are capable of being successful amongst their classmates.  Each topic will be addressed as follows:

• Initial Assessment
• English Language Level:
• Speak.
• Read.
• Write

• ELL Program
• Prior Education.
• New Education.
• Transition.

• Final Assessment
• Language Age Level.
• Language Grade Level.
• ELL Exit

• Developing ELL Students
• Time.
• Diversity.
• Culture.
• Potential

MRCR Education looks forward to your participation in our weekly theme, and we encourage you to read our posts throughout this week.

Copyright 2012 MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved

ELL's Language Barrier

English Language Learners

The Language Barrier Sub-Group

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas

English Language Learners (ELL) are a subgroup of students who have not acquired the fluency skills, in the English language, that the average native speaker possesses.  They have moved to a place where English is the native or primary language at a time when they are of school age and grade level. An English Language Learner, is learning language skills, while having the experience of practicing the language, in a new place of residency.  It takes a place of learning, like school, and it takes time, months and years, for an ELL to learn and become proficient in the language skills needed to equal those who have lived longer in a place where the English language is the primary language of communication.

There are two barriers that ELL's must overcome: experience with the language and skills practicing the language.  Experience with the language is how much time and exposure the student has had since birth.  An 8 year-old student has had 8 years of experience and exposure to a language given that they have had only one language throughout their 8 years.  Skills practicing the language is how the student learns to communicate and express successfully with others.  Two 8 year-old students may have 8 years of experience and exposure to a language, but may be at different skill levels in speaking, reading, and writing. An ELL can overcome these two barriers by learning how to make a transition between their native language and English.

The experience that an ELL has in their native language, as well as, the skills developed in the same are a contributing factor in the student's transition from English Language Learner to Fluent English Language.  An ELL student who is well educated, has a formal academic educational background, and has had at least limited experience with the English language will have a greater chance of success in transitioning between the native language and English; when compared to an ELL student who is not educated, has no formal academic educational background, and has not been exposed to the English language.  Understanding the initial skills of the English Language Learner should be the primary step to develop a path that will guide the ELL student toward becoming a Fluent English Language student.

Copyright 2012 MRCR Educational Consulting Group.  All Rights Reserved.

ELL Challenges: Conditions

English Language Learner Challenges

Conditions: Student's Prior Living Conditions.

By: Manuel R. CortezRodas

 An English Language Learner who arrives in the United States has experienced prior living conditions in their native land or places of residence.  Just as life and living conditions are varied between cities and states in the U.S., life and living conditions outside the U.S. is varied and different.  There are places where our ideas and values are shared or respected, and there are places where civil war, famine, and violence are part of everyday life.  The conditions that ELL students have had in their prior living conditions can present a challenge in their educational path when becoming educated in the United States.

Taking the time to understand the place of origin of a student can be a beneficial tool that educators can use to help ELL's overcome the challenge of the student's prior living condition.  Not all ELL students come from the same national, political, social, or economical conditions.  There are many ELL's whose prior living conditions have prepared them on how to succeed in not just their own nation's educational path, but it has helped them build a path that can succeed in the U.S. as well as other educational systems.

Although some ELL's will have endured some prior hardships in their living conditions, all ELL's can pursuit a vision of educational success that best benefits them in becoming life long learners.  As each student is unique, there will be those who have difficulties adjusting to new living conditions, while others will successfully adapt to their new environment of development.

Copyright 2012 MRCR Educational Consulting Firm. All Rights Reserved.

ELL Challenges: Climate

English Language Learner Challenges

Climate: Weather the Weather.

By: Manuel R. CortezRodas

A student who has lived in the tropics is now living in the frozen tundra.  There is now white snowy blizzards being driven by northern winds in the life of a student who has never experience this in the tropics.  Even within the Unites States, students can have difficulties adjusting to the climate when moving from Seattle, Washington to Los Angeles, California; Miami, Florida to Boston, Massachusetts.  There are difficulties students face in their learning when moving within the United States.  These difficulties also exist when moving from one nation to another, one hemisphere to another, one climate to another.

• How to prepare for new weather
1. Shelter: The student's place of residence should be adequately prepared to provide an educational learning environment.
2. Clothing: How to dress for the weather, and not to impress, is a lesson that is very helpful to students who are new to the climate that they will become accustomed to while living in the United States.
3. Information: News and information, weather channel or websites, looking at the sky to see what may come, are some of the ways that students will begin to understand how to make adjustments not just to their wardrobe, but mentally and physiologically.
4. Experience: There is no better way to understand weather than to experience it.  Having a chance to go play in the snow may help you become familiar with winter weather, but it will not prepare you to make it through a blizzard.

It takes a year for someone to experience the complete cycle of weather climate that any one region of the world endures.  It also takes many more years to become accustomed to the variations in weather climate that one experiences when living in a region for a long time.  Even after many years of living in one region, unexpected climate weather can occur.  Some students take time adjusting to new weather changes, and some may never adjust, and while they are adjusting to the weather, they will be expected to perform along side those students who are accustomed to their region's climate.

Copyright 2012 MRCR Educational Consulting Firm. All Rights Reserved.

ELL Challenges: Culture

English Language Learner Challenges

Culture: Is this the U.S.?

By: Manuel R. CortezRodas

Culture is a challenge that English Language Learners face when embarking on their educational path in the United States of America.  Culture in the United States is unique, complex, and diverse.  It goes beyond ethnic identity, multiculturalism ,and socioeconomic status.  ELL's in the U. S. who are developing their communication skills are, at the same time, going through a cultural development.  This development can be looked at in the following 5 categories:

• GEOGRAPHY: The main borders in the United States are two oceans, and two countries.  Geographically the U.S. could be defined as between: Atlantic Ocean, Mexico, Pacific Ocean, Canada, at least for the 48 States that are land-connected.  There are sierra mountains, great plains, bayous, swamps, coral reefs, rivers, lakes, coast lines, and valleys.  Geographical culture in the U.S. is one step that ELL's must develop in their educational path.
• DIVERSITY: The population of the U.S. is diverse; from City, County, State, and country of birth, to beliefs, faiths, languages, and generations.  No two towns are alike.  They may be similar, but they will have some minor difference that makes each one unique.  ELL students may come from a place that in the U.S. is considered as mono-cultural, but even mono-cultural societies develop diversity in their own terms and definitions.
• SOCIETY: The United States is more than radio, movies, t.v., and internet social networking.  Society in the U.S. is in constant change just as time is too.  The cultural experiences that English Language Learners experience will be varied based on the time, and place, where they experience them.  The development of their cultural enrichment in the U.S. is a tool that ELL's should develop in their educational path.
• EDUCATION: Whether public, private, traditional, or charter, education in the United States is varied. Each education style offered in the U.S. is indeed a culture of education.  How the student behaves and interacts with teachers and students may differ from the educational style the student is familiar with.  The student has to learn the role they have in education in addition to the responsibilities and expectations that the school will demand for their students to succeed.
• PRECONCEPTIONS: The student should reevaluate any preconceptions about life in the U.S. Students can become aware of some aspects of U.S. culture through a variety of mediums including: press, media, imagery, politics, athletics, social networking, and many others.  Even if mediums communicate with accuracy, what is perceived as a concept of U.S. culture, these concepts may not be representative of actual culture in the U.S.

An English Language Learner faces the challenges of living, learning, and adapting to culture in the United States.  They are also deciding if they will retain their own culture, adapt the new culture into their own, accept the new culture, or develop a concept all their own.  Addressing preconceptions students may have about life in the U.S., while learning how culture in the U.S. is defined and constantly changing, can be a helpful tool for an ELL student to develop.

Copyright 2012 MRCR Educational Consulting Firm. All Rights Reserved.