English as a Second Language (ELL/ENL/ESL/Language Minority)

BRIEF SUMMARY

English as a Second Language or ESL is one term for English learning.  Other names include: English Learners (ELs), English as a New Language (ENL) , English Language Learners (ELL), and Language Minority. More than 112,000 Indiana students speak a language other than English at home, and there are over 275 different languages represented in Indiana schools. Of these, over 50,000 students have been formally identified as English learners due to limited proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing academic English. English learners make up roughly 5% of Indiana’s total student population, and they are enrolled in schools and districts in every corner of the state. Some of these students are immigrants and refugees, but the vast majority of Indiana’s English learners were born in the United States. English learners have rich potential – culturally, linguistically, and academically. Indiana assessment data shows that students who achieve fluency in English often end up outperforming their native-speaking peers on state content assessments. Whether a local education agency has one English learner or thousands, they are obligated to meet certain federal requirements for their students.

Under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Title III (Language Instruction for Limited English Proficient and Immigrant Students) requires that schools identify limited English proficient students, assess their progress in English language proficiency, and provide eligible children with services that would increase their English proficiency and their academic achievement.

KEY POINTS

• Q: We have a new student that does not speak or understand very much English. The student is relying heavily on Google Translate. We do not have a high population of ELL students so our teachers are struggling and need support. Does anyone have any helpful resources? (Counselortalk 8/9/2022)
  • A: SIOP Model
• It is important to be aware of the legislation and policies that affect English Learners in schools.
• In Indiana, the Office of English Learning and Migrant Education oversees the Migrant Education Program, English learner programming, global learning, and refugee students.
• English Learner-related policy decisions and legislative guidance from the Indiana Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Education is available n the Indiana Department of Education’s web-page for English Learner Policy and Guidance.

RESOURCES

• (Added 11/10/23 IDOE Update): Updated Secondary English Learner Toolkit Now Available – IDOE’s Office of English Learning and Migrant Education is pleased to share the updated Secondary English Learner (EL) Toolkit. This resource provides guidance on a variety of topics pertaining to secondary EL students, such as awarding credits, scheduling EL services, differentiation, and more. This resource can also be found in the Indiana EL Community in Moodle. Contact IDOE’s Office of English Learning and Migrant Education with questions.
• (Added 11/6/23 Rebekah Frazer, IDOE): Secondary English Language Learner Toolkit – https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:f24ae2e5-93c7-3e18-be4b-632596be0921.
• English Learner Guidebook (IDOE)
  
• English Learning (IDOE)
  
• WIDA: English Language Development Standards and Assessment (IDOE)
  
• Virtual SEL for our ESOL Enrichment Summer Program: Building Relationships Activities Final 1, Building Relationships Bingo, Life Skills- Building Relationships Lesson Plans, Who Am I Bingo

SHARED WISDOM

• When a student is a native Spanish speaker and wants to take Spanish in high school-Counselor Talk responses from October 2017
• There are a lot of great professional development resources on the DOE page for English Learner Resources, including several PPTs

CONTENT FEEDBACK

If you have suggestions, feedback, or resources, please email counselor1stop@inspiresuccess.org and let us know.