Quick recap of the article - Now instead of having 2-3 years of ELA instruction before taking ELA exams in English without extra time or assistance, ESL students are being required by the federal government to take these tests after just one year of instruction and immersion! To check out the article yourself, go to News10Now.com
I cannot believe that anyone would think that this is a good idea. English is a very large and difficult language to study. I think that all of us can agree that in Masselink's class we were learning things that we had never encountered before (or taken seriously). And we felt this way after growing up in the English language and being surrounded by it for 25+ years. How could a child from another country, who has never spoken English before, possibly succeed on a formal, standardized test after just one year of instruction!?!
How many children are we going to traumatize by forcing them to take a serious test in a language with which they are just learning? And how are we going to allow these test results to affect their progression/placement in school? Does our government read any research?
Below is a copy of the NYS ESL Learning Standards:
ESL Standard 1: Students will listen, speak, read and write in English for information and understanding.
ESL Standard 2: Students will listen, speak, read and write in English for literary response, enjoyment and expression.
ESL Standard 3: Students will listen, speak, read and write in English for critical analysis and evaluation.
ESL Standard 4: Students will listen, speak, read and write in English for classroom and social interaction.
ESL Standard 5: Students will demonstrate cross-cultural knowledge and understanding.
I do not see how a child who has only been receiving instruction for one year prior to examination will be able to prove any of the above standards...especially in the nerve-wracking environment of a standardized testing room. Are things just getting crazier and crazier?
3 comments:
So what ultimately happens to ESL students who can't make the grade? Are they deported? (sarcasm) Forgive me but I just can't make any sense out of this - then again, it won't be the first time...
Who/what is at work here?? What do you think?
I think tamarajolie poses an interesting question: "what happens to ESL students who can't make the grade?" Yes, what does happen to them?
Forget about what the standards require--I would like to know what these standards, or any, seek to accomplish.
I wonder if anyone could propose a form of assessment that is, as Chrissy says, "fair to everyone"?
Ultimately, I do agree that one year is not enough time for ESL students to acclimate; one year is not enough time for anything.
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