Language Proficiency In Academic Contexts Summary

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The article Language Proficiency in Academic Contexts by J. Cummins, was about some issues among English language learner students becoming fluent in English as their second language, along with meeting expectations of keeping up with the academic content in schools. The main idea or concept that I grasped from reading this article, is the large gap between English language learners becoming fluent in English and learning the content being taught in the classrooms without falling below grade level. The article expresses how these expectations of ELLS causes such a gap between becoming fluent in English and learning the academic content, causing English language learners to fall behind. Some information that I pinpointed from the article that …show more content…

He discusses how these tests are not proper for ELLS to be taking. They are expected to take standardized tests in English even if they are not fluent in the language. They take these scores and use them to label the child's ability as well as the teacher and schools abilities. This is seen as an improper way to test these children, and there is a need for more valid testing of ELL students. He discusses a goal of accommodating ELL students in such a way so that they only need a small amount of proficiency in order to succeed in school. This would eliminate a gap between the language and being successful in academics, and children would not be limited to learn based on their ability to fluently speak English. In the article Validating English Language Proficiency Assessment Uses for English Learners: Academic Language Proficiency and Content Assessment Performance, this same issue is addressed. The article states how English based assessments are used for ELL students, and this determines the child's eligibility or readiness to learn certain material in schools. This article also mentions how based on these students’ scores, can affect the funding of the school or

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