Notes to Parents & Students of English Language Learning (ELL) Courses


Why am I in ELL?

You are in ELL because you need help learning English. Being in ELL is not a punishment! It does not mean you are not a good student. It does not mean you are not smart. It takes a person many years of English instruction to reach grade equivalency (to be able to talk, write, read, and understand like a native speaker of your grade).  In fact, it takes from 5 - 8 years for a non-native speaking student to learn English at a senior high school level for graduation.

How is school in Canada like?

In Canada, teachers put emphasis on student accountability, independence and self-discipline to do the school work necessary for them to succeed. Having to learn English while taking regular courses, and trying to graduate before the age of 19, is a very difficult task for many ELL students. Learning a new language is a difficult task. Research has shown that it takes 2-3 years on average to learn conversational English and 7-9 years to learn academic English. Students must study English at home every day.

Is there any way I can get through ELL fast?

If you are wondering whether you can learn perfect English in a week, a month, or even a year, the answer is no. However, there is one way you can move through ELL levels quickly: practice. If you speak English all the time before, after, and during school (including lunch time and during breaks), if you practice for a couple of hours each night, if you make English speaking friends, join after-school clubs and groups where English is spoken, and generally immerse yourself in an English-speaking environment, you will learn English faster. Remember that everyone learns a language differently. You may not learn English as fast as someone else in your family or a friend. Your goal should be to learn English accurately by practicing often, doing your homework, and studying. If you miss an important area of language development, your English will be fossilized.

If I promise to work hard, can I try the next higher level?

No! It's great that you want to work hard, and practicing English is the kind of hard work that will help you to succeed in English, but we won't move you to a level that you aren't ready for, because you will miss important language lessons and your English will become fossilized, means that that usage errors have become embedded (i.e., habitual) in your language production.  It occurs when ELL learners get no corrective feedback.

Why do so many students repeat levels?

It would be nice if everyone had to spend only one year at each level, but that is often not the case. The problem is students aren't practicing English enough. This is because of our situation in Richmond: if most of your friends in your school speak your first language, and your first language is used at home (understandably, since you want to communicate with your family in the easiest way possible), you may only be practicing English for a few minutes in a day! Learning English is like driving a car: it doesn't matter how many books you study on the topic, the only way you can learn to drive is to drive! The more you drive, the better you get at it. If it takes more that one year to complete a level, you likely aren't practicing enough.


Other schools don't make students take some of the ELL courses that we have to take at SLSS. Why?

We think SLSS has one of the best ELL programs in the district. Some schools are unable to offer the level of support that we do. Students do move through levels quicker and may not have to take all the courses we offer. However, without an adequate level of support, students typically fail their senior English courses and many never achieve the level of English needed for post-secondary education or employment in Canada.


Do I have to stay in one ELL level all year?

Absolutely not! Your ELL teacher is constantly assessing your level of English. If you are in the wrong level, your ELL teacher will know this and you will be moved. Usually, this correction is made at the beginning of each semester so that you don't miss anything at the level you are being moved to.  With that being said, however, SLSS uses the ELO (Essential Learning Outcome) Rubric that assesses a student as he/she learns.  The ELO Rubric was created so that students may progress at their own pace.  Students who work hard, learn from their errors, and want to learn English progress through the continuum faster than students who don't.  The ELO Rubric for each level is goals-based so you can see what you need to learn next to progress.

Who decides when I get to move up or down a level and how do they know?

Your ELL teacher (or teachers, if you have more than one) decides when you are ready to move up a level. Secondary ELL teachers have at least 5 years of university and a certificate or diploma in teaching ELL specifically. They are trained to recognize what language skills are needed at each level You will be moved when you are ready. You do not need to remind us, and you will not be moved faster if you plead with us. The decision is based on your language skills, nothing else. Your ELL teacher(s) can explain to you exactly what skills you need to develop in order to advance, or you can refer to the ELO Rubric.


But if I stay in ELL I am missing real English at my grade level!

Not true! Actually, the "E" in ELL stands for English! Your ELL teacher is an English teacher who is also specially trained to understand the kinds of errors ELL students make and who can help you to fix them. We have designed our ESL program to make sure that you will not miss anything that is being taught in regular English at any grade level. When you exit ELL, you will be placed in your grade level English class.  Do keep in mind, however, that most ELL students still struggle in regular English class (in comparison to their peers) because they are still relatively new at the exposure to literary terms and concepts (while their peers have been learning them since elementary school). 
 

My parents want me out of ELL so I can graduate on time

Of course your parents want you to have excellent English! So do we! But language learning cannot be rushed. If you need to take English 11 and English 12 twice each, and you fail your college or university entrance exams, then you are not really ahead of the game, are you? The best way parents can help ELL students graduate with others in their age group is to make sure the student enters the school system here no later than grade 8. Any later, and it is quite possible that you will not graduate "on time". Don't let that worry you. So what if it takes an extra year or two to graduate? That is still a great achievement when you consider all the challenges you had to face while learning a second language!

What do I do if I can't graduate by the time I am 19?

There are many options. Your school counselors have a booklet called "Post Secondary Options for ELL students". It outlines many thing that you can do, such as taking Continuing Education courses equivalency courses at a community college.

Ways to Assist ELL Students to Learn English
  • Review all notes from the day's lessons
  • Read library books/novels, newspapers, and/or magazines for 30-60 minutes every day
  • Read at your level (the librarian or teacher can help you choose an appropriate book)
  • Look at any difficult words and keep a record of new vocabulary
  • Speak English at home, with friends, and at school
  • Watch English TV, films/movies, and plays
  • Visit recreational places where English is spoken
  • Set aside a time and a quiet place to read each day
  • Show interest in your child's homework
  • Make friends with English-speaking peers
  • Attend school parent meetings
  • Use an English-speaking tutor, preferably in a one-to-one setting*
  • Volunteer at local community centers/events where you can be immersed in the local culture and learn English nuances
  • Join an activity at school or in the community such as a sports team or school club where you can speak English in a natural way
*Have the tutor refer to and use the ELO Rubric.

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