Natural Stages of Language Development: Teaching Learners through Principles of Language Acquisition TLPI Spring 2007 Prepared by Virginia Shannon

Some Maxims A student’s literacy in their first language dramatically impacts their ability to acquire subsequent languages (Krashen). A student’s literacy in their first language dramatically impacts their ability to acquire subsequent languages (Krashen). A student’s ability to produce language will vary from context to context. A student’s ability to produce language will vary from context to context. ELL does not equal low I.Q. ELL does not equal low I.Q.

Assessment and Placement Home Language Survey (HLS) Home Language Survey (HLS) Student Oral Language Observation Matrix (SOLOM) Student Oral Language Observation Matrix (SOLOM) California English Language Development Test (CELDT) California English Language Development Test (CELDT) Primary language tests Primary language tests Teacher observation and recommendation Teacher observation and recommendation

Level 1: Pre-production Stage Minimal comprehension Minimal comprehension No verbal production No verbal production Strategies to use Strategies to uselistenmovemimepointmatchdrawselectcircleact

Level 2: Early Production Stage Limited comprehension Limited comprehension Verbal responses limited to one or two words Verbal responses limited to one or two words Strategies to use Strategies to usenamelabelgroupanswerlistcategorize say or tell

Level 3: Speech Emergence Stage Increased comprehension Increased comprehension Simple sentences Simple sentences Simple errors in speech Simple errors in speech Strategies to use Strategies to use recall compare restate define describe explain role play

Level 4: Intermediate Fluency Stage Very good comprehension Very good comprehension More complex sentences More complex sentences Complex errors in speech Complex errors in speech Strategies to use Strategies to useanalyzecreatedefendcompleteevaluatejustifysupport describe in detail

Level 5: Fluency Stage Learners in this stage have acquired basic interpersonal communication skills (BICS) Learners in this stage have acquired basic interpersonal communication skills (BICS) Their ability to acquire cognitive academic language proficiency (CALP) enhances their ability to learn challenging content in an acquired language (Cummins) Their ability to acquire cognitive academic language proficiency (CALP) enhances their ability to learn challenging content in an acquired language (Cummins)