BICS = Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills: This refers to the common, everyday language that children learn and use at play and to socialize with each other. It takes about one to three years to learn BICS. BICS is different from CALP [See CALP below.]
CALP = Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency: This refers to the more difficult academic language that teachers and students use at school. It is more difficult to learn CALP than BICS. [See BICS above.] Research says, it can take about five to ten years to become proficient in academic language.
ELL = English Language Learner : This acronym refers to a student who is learning English. An ELL can be a child or an adult whose first language is not English.
ELL = English Language Learning: This is the newest name for the program at your school which supports international students in learning academic language at school.
ELPA = English Language Proficiency Assessment: This was the English proficiency test that the state of Michigan used for English Language Learners between 2003 and 2013. Michigan does not use this test anymore. Starting in the fall of 2013, the state of Michigan has been using the W-APT test in the fall and the WIDA test in the spring. These new tests measures your child’s English proficiency
ESL = English as a Second Language: This phrase acknowledges that English may be your child’s second language. Your home language is your child’s first language. If your child has two languages at home, then this is not a good phrase to describe your child. This is why we prefer to use the phrase English Language Learner.
FLEP = Formerly Limited English Proficiency: This phrase refers to the proficiency level of a student who was an ELL but who is now proficient in English. They were formerly not proficient but now they are proficient. These students achieve a score of Proficient on the WIDA test in the spring.
LEP = Limited English Proficiency: This phrase describes a student's English language level when it is not yet fluent and proficient.
W-APT = WIDA Access Placement Test: This is the new screener test that assesses your child's English proficiency level. This is the English test an ELL takes first to see if she/he needs help with English because she/he is not yet proficient in English. Usually this test happens in the fall when school starts. But this test can happen if an ELL enrolls at any time during the school year. This test happens only one time for each ELL. The State of Michigan started using this test in the fall of 2013. (See WIDA below.)
WIDA = World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment : This is the name of the test that measures your child’s growth in English proficiency. This test measures progress in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The state of Michigan started using this test in the spring of 2014. An ELL takes this test each spring until she/he becomes proficient in English. That means, an ELL might take this test several times.
CALP = Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency: This refers to the more difficult academic language that teachers and students use at school. It is more difficult to learn CALP than BICS. [See BICS above.] Research says, it can take about five to ten years to become proficient in academic language.
ELL = English Language Learner : This acronym refers to a student who is learning English. An ELL can be a child or an adult whose first language is not English.
ELL = English Language Learning: This is the newest name for the program at your school which supports international students in learning academic language at school.
ELPA = English Language Proficiency Assessment: This was the English proficiency test that the state of Michigan used for English Language Learners between 2003 and 2013. Michigan does not use this test anymore. Starting in the fall of 2013, the state of Michigan has been using the W-APT test in the fall and the WIDA test in the spring. These new tests measures your child’s English proficiency
ESL = English as a Second Language: This phrase acknowledges that English may be your child’s second language. Your home language is your child’s first language. If your child has two languages at home, then this is not a good phrase to describe your child. This is why we prefer to use the phrase English Language Learner.
FLEP = Formerly Limited English Proficiency: This phrase refers to the proficiency level of a student who was an ELL but who is now proficient in English. They were formerly not proficient but now they are proficient. These students achieve a score of Proficient on the WIDA test in the spring.
LEP = Limited English Proficiency: This phrase describes a student's English language level when it is not yet fluent and proficient.
W-APT = WIDA Access Placement Test: This is the new screener test that assesses your child's English proficiency level. This is the English test an ELL takes first to see if she/he needs help with English because she/he is not yet proficient in English. Usually this test happens in the fall when school starts. But this test can happen if an ELL enrolls at any time during the school year. This test happens only one time for each ELL. The State of Michigan started using this test in the fall of 2013. (See WIDA below.)
WIDA = World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment : This is the name of the test that measures your child’s growth in English proficiency. This test measures progress in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The state of Michigan started using this test in the spring of 2014. An ELL takes this test each spring until she/he becomes proficient in English. That means, an ELL might take this test several times.