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HOME > GENERAL EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES > HELP CHILDREN WHO ARE SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES SUCCEED
Class work can be particularly challenging for a child who speaks English
as a second (or third!) language. However, there are many
ways to help a child succeed and make the most of his or her
native language strengths, while he or she is learning English.
If you are concerned that a child is struggling because he or she is
Limited English Proficient (LEP), the following pages can help. Below, you
will find an explanation of the Florida Department of Education’s approach to
ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages), plus some tips on things you,
as an important adult in a child’s life, can do to help that child. You will
also find links to related web sites.
Florida’s Approach to ESOL
Our state has a large immigrant population, and with that population comes a
rich mixture of cultures, as well as special educational challenges. Florida
schools are committed to helping LEP children succeed, while recognizing the
need to preserve the original cultures of those children.
There are many ways to teach English to LEP students. Florida schools
have adopted an approach that combines language arts instruction with
English as a Second Language instruction. When English is taught as a
second or foreign language exclusively, LEP students do not get a rounded
language arts education. On the other hand, when a curriculum focuses
exclusively on language arts, students do not learn the basics of
the English language, and have difficulty in classes taught in English.
That is why Florida uses ESOL teaching methods. These methods address
individual differences in learning styles; acknowledge the inter-relationships
between culture, thought, and academic achievement; link teaching to assessment;
and recognize the importance of community/school cooperation in education.
How do I know if my child needs ESOL testing?
All students entering school are given the Home Language Survey, a short
series of questions that the classroom teacher will ask your child on the first
day of school. These questions are:
- What language did you learn when you first began to talk?
- What language do you mostly use at home?
- What language do you mostly use when speaking to your parents?
If the answer to any of these questions is a language other than English,
the teacher will recommend that the child take an English language exam. These
exams test the speaking and listening skills of younger children, as well as the
reading and writing skills of older students.
How is the FCAT given to LEP students?
LEP children take the same FCAT that other children take, but accommodations
are made to help children for whom English is a second language. Schools in the
public school system send information about these accommodations home to parents.
The explanation should be in a language the parent can understand. If you do not
receive such information from your child’s school, please contact your school
district office.
For children who have been in school for less than two years, FCAT scores are not
counted toward the school’s overall ranking. The scores of these children are simply
used by teachers and administrators to measure how well the ESOL program is
performing and to determine whether the child needs extra help.
What you can do: Ways to get involved
- Give your child’s school accurate information about your child’s
English language proficiency and his or her native language. By
providing precise information, you will help your child get the best education possible.
- Find out what questions your child’s teacher is asking your child about
language. If it seems the school has not gotten enough information to place the
child in the right class, you can help by giving them more information about
the child’s language abilities.
- Ask your child’s school if they would consider hosting an ESOL open house.
An open house is an informal meeting where parents, guardians, and mentors
can ask ESOL teachers and counselors questions and get pointers on what they
can do to help their children.
- Form a support group with other parents of LEP children. Support groups can
be especially helpful if you are also just learning English. Groups of
parents who speak your native language can share information and talk to
one another about successes and challenges.
- Encourage your child’s school to create a “Welcome Center” for LEP students
and volunteer to help set it up. Welcome Centers can help ensure that
incoming LEP students are treated fairly. They also provide a friendly
setting for families. Welcome Centers can help parents communicate with
school staff members about language problems. Additionally, Welcome
Centers can be places for student health services and parent support.
- Voice your concerns about your child’s language development to teachers or
counselors at school. Even if you do not speak English, your child’s school
will welcome your questions and comments through an interpreter.
- Read aloud to your child and foster reading at home. Studies have shown
that children benefit from reading in all forms. Reading in a child’s
native language can also help improve his or her English language skills.
- Visit the public library and encourage your child to check out books in
his or her native language, as well as in English, for reading at home.
- Make a place at home where you highlight your child’s work, both in English
and in his or her native language. This will show the child that you
support all of his or her learning efforts.
- Create a quiet space at home where your child can do his or her homework.
A desk or corner table, away from family noise, will give your child a
place to focus on learning.
- Follow the tips in Help Children Succeed:
An A to Z Guide.
Additional Internet Resources:
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