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Literacy Development of ESL (English as second language) Children

ESL/ELL children face the dual challenge of acquiring a second language and developing literacy at the same time. A reflective teacher,who is sensitive to the challenge,is aware of the stages of English language acquisition and adjusts instruction to account for any additional supports necessary for these children.

The ESL/ELL prompts within the Rigby Literacy lessons provide practical suggestions to ensure successful literacy
experiences for these children.

There are five stages of English language acquisition:

Stage 1: Preproduction

Children at the preproduction stage are fairly new to English and not yet comfortable producing English speech.

Teaching Strategy Your goal should be to build their English listening comprehension and the number of words they understand. ESL/ELL prompts within the Rigby Literacy lesson plans highlight challenging vocabulary and concepts.

Stage 2: Early Production

Children at the early production stage are just beginning to understand some spoken English and are feeling confident enough to produce a few words of English speech.

Teaching Strategy You will want to continue building the vocabulary children understand and also motivate them to use that vocabulary.

Stage 3: Speech Emergence

Children at the speech emergent stage are now understanding much of the spoken English heard in the world around them. Although communication often breaks down,the y can now make themselves understood in many situations.

Despite the evident errors in their speech,speech emergent children partake in everyday social interactions,exchang ing greetings and engaging in conversations. However,academic language is extremely limited.

Teaching Strategy Your teaching should focus on continuing to build the vocabulary these children understand and on developing higher levels of language use. Rigby Literacy lessons emphasize the need for children to read alone,with peers,and with the teacher to practice new vocabulary and to express thoughts.

Stage 4: Intermediate Fluency

Children at the intermediate fluency stage understand most of the spoken English they encounter. Although their speech is not perfect, communication rarely breaks down.There are few barriers to their participation in the English-speaking world. However, they are still struggling to master academic language and to expand their ability to negotiate the various content areas.

Teaching Strategy You will want to continue building children’s vocabulary and developing higher levels of language use in the content areas. Rigby Literacy lessons suggest ideas and appropriate opportunities for asking questions and responding to fictional and informational texts.

Stage 5: Advanced Fluency

Children at the advanced fluency stage comprehend and speak oral English almost like native speakers,making few errors.They participate fully in their English-speaking world. However,the y may still be lagging several years behind grade level in their academic vocabulary and content-area knowledge.

Teaching Strategy You will want to continue building their literacy learning according to grade-level expectations,w orking on academic vocabulary and developing higher levels of language use in the content areas. Rigby Literacy lessons provide Optional Further Practice with reading, writing,and speaking extension activities where this kind of language building can be reinforced.

Article adapted from Rigby Literacy Teacher's Guide (2000)

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