English Language Learners (ELL)

Definition & AB Educ. Code

Also known as English Second learners (ESL), it is an exceptionality in which the students first learned language is a language other
than English. This lack of English proficiency makes full participation in learning opportunities difficult to the students.
Coding: Canadian born 303
Foreign born 301

Characteristics &/or Observable

Behaviours

Teaching Strategies & Resources

Links &/or Sources

- There is a wide range of characteristics

and behaviours for ELL students. An
overview of these can be found at
http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/eslapb/d
ocuments/characteristics_of_english_langua
ge_learners.pdf with respect to the
Profiency Benchmarks.

-Use a variety of instruction and assessment

strategies.
-Use visuals during instruction and
accompany print material with visuals for
clarification and explanation.
-Slow down your speech and use shorter
sentences, examples, gestures,
demonstrations, and avoid expressions or
sayings that are only common in your culture.
-Follow predictable routines.
-Involve students culture and family in school
events and projects
-Allow students to substitute drawings,
pictures, or diagrams, graphs, charts for a
written assignment
-Reduce length and allow more time for
written assignments
-for more specific strategies and activities,
visit
http://www.educ.ualberta.ca/staff/olenka.bilas
h/best%20of
%20bilash/strategiesactivities.html

- Alberta Education: English

Second Language Learners:
http://education.alberta.ca/teach
ers/aisi/themes/esl.aspx

- Behaviours are organized into 5 different

levels based on English speaking ability.
These include: Beginning, Developing,
Expanding, Bridging and Extending.
- Students who are in the Beginning Level
show behaviours such as high selfconsciousness, frustration and fatigue as the
day goes on, and heavy reliance on visual
representations.
- As students progress through the levels,
there is an increase in their comfort
speaking English as well as their confidence
in learning.
-Teachers of ELL students often misjudge
their language abilities. There is an
observable difference between the
conversational language and academic
language these students use. This
misunderstanding can lead to
misconceptions about the intelligence or
motivation levels of ELL students. Jim
Cummins helped clarify this disparity by
introducing two language continua called
BICS (Basic Interpersonal Communicative
Skills) and CALP (Cognitive Academic
Language Proficiency). For more
information about BICS and CALP visit
http://www.educ.ualberta.ca/staff/olenka.Bil
ash/best%20of%20bilash/bics%20calp.html

- Supporting English Language

Learners:
http://www.learnalberta.ca/cont
ent/eslapb/
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/st
rategies-and-resourcessupporting-ell-todd-finley
webpage is a portal to multiple
other websites, articles, and
resources.
http://education.jhu.edu/PD/ne
whorizons/strategies/topics/Eng
lish%20Language
%20Learners/Articles/Effective
%20Instructional%20Strategies
%20for%20English
%20Language%20Learners
%20in%20Mainstream
%20Classrooms/
-12 simple ways to support
ELL students in the classroom
http://www.cultofpedagogy.co
m/supporting-esl-studentsmainstream-classroom/
Alberta Education. (Year).
English Second Language
Learners. Retrieved from:
http://education.alberta.ca/te
achers/aisi/themes/esl.aspx
Alberta Teachers Association.
(2010). Understanding English
Language Learners:
Differentiating Instruction.
Retrieved from:
http://www.teachers.ab.ca/Site
CollectionDocuments/ATA/Pub
lications/SpecialistCouncils/ESL-3-

5%20Differentiating
%20Instruction.pdf
Bilash, O. (2009). Working
With ELL/ESL Students.
Retrieved from:
http://www.educ.ualberta.ca/s
taff/olenka.bilash/best%20of
%20bilash/ELLstudents.html
Responsible Educators
Accountable for Learning.
(Year). Effective Teaching
Strategies for English
Language Learners. Retrieved
from:
http://www.supportrealtea
chers.org/strategies-forenglish-languagelearners.html

Cult of Pedagogy. (2015). 12

ways to Support ESL Students
in the Mainstream Classroom.
Retrieved from:
http://www.cultofpedagogy.co
m/supporting-esl-studentsmainstream-classroom/

Learn Alberta. (Year).

Supporting English Language
Learners. Retrieved from:
http://www.learnalberta.ca/cont
ent/eslapb/