Levels of Oral Language Proficiency

Pre-Production Time Length Number of Words 0-6 mths in U.S. school Up to 500 receptive words Minimal comprehension No verbal production Communicates with action and gestures Points Manipulates items to demonstrate understanding Imitates Nods Says yes or no Says names of other students Lessons focus on listening comp. Use visual aids and realia Speak more slowly Emphasize and reiterate key words Use gestures and actions Require physical response to check comprehension Cooperative groups Model Do not force production listen draw choose point yes/no gesture act out match circle move Early Production (Beginner) 6 mths-1 year in U.S. school 1,000 receptive words 100 expressive words Limited comprehension Follows directions One/two word responses Answers in short phrases Gives lists of words Uses two/three word strings Uses global expressions Speech Emergent (Intermediate) 1-3 yrs in U.S. school Up to 3,000 words Increased comprehension Uses simple sentences and phrases Several errors in speech Participates in dialogues Engages in simple story telling and retelling. Can talk about familiar things Develop higher level of language use Language patterns Extend verbal expressions Ask questions that require longer and more complex speech Use charts/diagrams Cooperative activities that involve student conversations Intermediate Fluency (Early Advanced) 3-5 yrs in U.S. school Up to 6,000 words Very good comprehension Uses more complex sentences Complex errors in speech Engages in conversations Produces connected narratives Retells stories States opinions Reports on events Gives instructions Fluency (Advanced) 5-7 yrs in U.S. school Up to 12,000 words Near oral fluency Vocabulary approaches that of native speakers Few errors in speech Understand and produces complex sentences Follow lectures May lack experience with written language May need support with new academic terms Lessons on idoms and nuances. Provides practice with conventions. Continue to teach academic vocabulary Study skills Figurative language

ELL Characteristics and Behaviors

Teaching Strategies

Assessment Options

Activities to motivate students to produce vocabulary and structures they understand Language patterns Seek to develop active vocabulary Allow for mistakes in pronunciation and usage. Ask questions with one/two word responses Cooperative learning name list label categorize group tell/say answer draw

Develop academic vocabulary Incorporate more reading and writing Skills in following a lecture Extensive practice Higher level thinking skills Questions soliciting judgments, opinions, explanations.

recall role-play retell explain describe compare define contrast justify create

debate defend analyze complete evaluate create justify support

Grade level assessments