The Importance of The Importance of TESOL StandardsTESOL Standards

Kim Cunningham Kim Cunningham

EESL 650EESL 650

What are the TESOL Standards?What are the TESOL Standards?

The TESOL standards promotes English The TESOL standards promotes English Language Proficiency in academic Language Proficiency in academic language, social language, and literacy language, social language, and literacy development among English Language development among English Language Learners. Learners.

Sample Performance IndicatorsSample Performance Indicators

Principles of Language Proficiency Principles of Language Proficiency

The TESOL standards have 6 principles The TESOL standards have 6 principles that serve as the foundation of the that serve as the foundation of the language proficiency. language proficiency.

Principle 1Principle 1

Language proficiency is an outgrowth of Language proficiency is an outgrowth of cumulative experiences both inside and cumulative experiences both inside and outside of school.outside of school.

-Teachers can build on students’ -Teachers can build on students’ background knowledge, while introducing background knowledge, while introducing new concepts to extend students new concepts to extend students academic language proficiency. academic language proficiency.

-This engages students to the new content.-This engages students to the new content.

Principle 2Principle 2

Language proficiency can reflect complex Language proficiency can reflect complex thinking when linguistic complexity is thinking when linguistic complexity is reduced and support is present. reduced and support is present.

- Teachers can use strategies and Teachers can use strategies and instructional support that enables their instructional support that enables their students to engage meaningfully in the students to engage meaningfully in the learning of new content. learning of new content.

Principle 3Principle 3

Both social and academic language Both social and academic language proficiencies are necessary for school proficiencies are necessary for school success. success.

-Teachers must be aware of how the -Teachers must be aware of how the relationship between social and academic relationship between social and academic language they affect academic success. language they affect academic success.

Principle 4Principle 4

Academic language proficiency works in Academic language proficiency works in tandem with academic achievement. tandem with academic achievement.

-Mastery of academic language is needed -Mastery of academic language is needed by all students for long-term success in the by all students for long-term success in the core content areas. core content areas.

Principle 5Principle 5

Academic language proficiency is Academic language proficiency is developed through sustained content-developed through sustained content-based language instruction.based language instruction.

-Academic language proficiency creates -Academic language proficiency creates success in content areas.success in content areas.

Principle 6Principle 6

Native language proficiency-in particular, Native language proficiency-in particular, academic language proficiency in the native academic language proficiency in the native language-facilitates the acquisition of academic language-facilitates the acquisition of academic language proficiency in English. language proficiency in English.

-Students that have developed academic language -Students that have developed academic language in their native language can more easily in their native language can more easily recognize, comprehend, and apply new recognize, comprehend, and apply new vocabulary and language patterns to their vocabulary and language patterns to their second language. second language.

Any Questions???Any Questions???