| definition of proficient in a language: The Way of the Linguist Steve Kaufmann, 2005-11 The Way of The Linguist, A language learning odyssey. It is now a cliché that the world is a smaller place. We think nothing of jumping on a plane to travel to another country or continent. The most exotic locations are now destinations for mass tourism. Small business people are dealing across frontiers and language barriers like never before. The Internet brings different languages and cultures to our finger-tips. English, the hybrid language of an island at the western extremity of Europe seems to have an unrivalled position as an international medium of communication. But historically periods of cultural and economic domination have never lasted forever. Do we not lose something by relying on the wide spread use of English rather than discovering other languages and cultures? As citizens of this shrunken world, would we not be better off if we were able to speak a few languages other than our own? The answer is obviously yes. Certainly Steve Kaufmann thinks so, and in his busy life as a diplomat and businessman he managed to learn to speak nine languages fluently and observe first hand some of the dominant cultures of Europe and Asia. Why do not more people do the same? In his book The Way of The Linguist, A language learning odyssey, Steve offers some answers. Steve feels anyone can learn a language if they want to. He points out some of the obstacles that hold people back. Drawing on his adventures in Europe and Asia, as a student and businessman, he describes the rewards that come from knowing languages. He relates his evolution as a language learner, abroad and back in his native Canada and explains the kind of attitude that will enable others to achieve second language fluency. Many people have taken on the challenge of language learning but have been frustrated by their lack of success. This book offers detailed advice on the kind of study practices that will achieve language breakthroughs. Steve has developed a language learning system available online at: www.thelinguist.com. |
| definition of proficient in a language: Raising Global Children Stacie Nevadomski Berdan, Marshall S. Berdan, 2013-11-01 Today’s children need to develop a global mindset – an indispensable tool for success. Together, as parents and educators, we must instill in our children an interest in learning about the world early on. Raising Global Children provides the rationale and concrete steps you can take to open up the world to young people – and to do so in a fun and entertaining way without spending a whole lot of money. Packed with practical information, hundreds of tips and dozens of real-life stories, this combination parenting-educational advocacy book is the first of its kind to detail what raising global children means, why global awareness is important and how to develop a global mindset. Inside the pages of Raising Global Children, the authors make a strong case for the importance of both small and big ways that adults can influence and shape the development of a global mindset in children, including: Encouraging curiosity, empathy, flexibility and independence Supporting learning a second language as early as possible Exploring culture through books, food, music and friends Expanding a child’s world through travel at home and abroad Helping teens to spread their own global wings Advocating for teaching global education in schools Enthusiastically praised by parents and professionals alike, Raising Global Children is filled with inspiring advice that will change the way you think about raising and educating children. Raising Global Children is published by The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), which is dedicated to the improvement and expansion of the teaching and learning of all languages at all levels of instruction. Find out more at www.actfl.org. PRAISE: “In the increasingly interconnected and competitive world that our young people find themselves in, Stacie and Mike Berdan’s Raising Global Children is one sure fire way for today’s busy parents to help give their kids a step up and get ahead.” —Curtis S. Chin, former U.S. Ambassador and international business executive Raising Global Children is an essential guide for preparing our children for a successful future in a globally competitive and interconnected world, one that is far different than the world we grew up in. —Diane Gulyas, President of DuPont Performance Polymers Raising Global Children is a book for parents who know the world is changing and want their children to experience it, embrace it and benefit from it. It is a must have guide for bringing up globally aware kids. —Carolyn Tieger, President of entrePReneur Communications, LLC “The Berdans have done an excellent job of outlining how adults can influence and shape the development of a global mindset among children. Raising Global Children clearly illustrates how parents and educators can open up the world to the young people in their lives by developing the necessary skills and attitude to fully embrace it!” —Marty Abbott, Executive Director, American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages |
| definition of proficient in a language: Language Dominance in Bilinguals Jeanine Treffers-Daller, Carmen Silva-Corvalán, 2016 With contributions from an international team of leading experts, this volume offers new ways to explore and measure language dominance. |
| definition of proficient in a language: A Principled Approach to Language Assessment National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, Committee on Foreign Language Assessment for the U.S. Foreign Service Institute, 2020-09-19 The United States is formally represented around the world by approximately 14,000 Foreign Service officers and other personnel in the U.S. Department of State. Roughly one-third of them are required to be proficient in the local languages of the countries to which they are posted. To achieve this language proficiency for its staff, the State Department's Foreign Service Institute (FSI) provides intensive language instruction and assesses the proficiency of personnel before they are posted to a foreign country. The requirement for language proficiency is established in law and is incorporated in personnel decisions related to job placement, promotion, retention, and pay. A Principled Approach to Language Assessment: Considerations for the U.S. Foreign Service Institute evaluates the different approaches that exist to assess foreign language proficiency that FSI could potentially use. This report considers the key assessment approaches in the research literature that are appropriate for language testing, including, but not limited to, assessments that use task-based or performance-based approaches, adaptive online test administration, and portfolios. |
| definition of proficient in a language: Allocating Federal Funds for State Programs for English Language Learners National Research Council, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, Board on Testing and Assessment, Committee on National Statistics, Panel to Review Alternative Data Sources for the Limited-English Proficiency Allocation Formula Under Title III, Part A, Elementary and Secondary Education Act, 2011-06-20 As the United States continues to be a nation of immigrants and their children, the nation's school systems face increased enrollments of students whose primary language is not English. With the 2001 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) in the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), the allocation of federal funds for programs to assist these students to be proficient in English became formula-based: 80 percent on the basis of the population of children with limited English proficiency1 and 20 percent on the basis of the population of recently immigrated children and youth. Title III of NCLB directs the U.S. Department of Education to allocate funds on the basis of the more accurate of two allowable data sources: the number of students reported to the federal government by each state education agency or data from the American Community Survey (ACS). The department determined that the ACS estimates are more accurate, and since 2005, those data have been basis for the federal distribution of Title III funds. Subsequently, analyses of the two data sources have raised concerns about that decision, especially because the two allowable data sources would allocate quite different amounts to the states. In addition, while shortcomings were noted in the data provided by the states, the ACS estimates were shown to fluctuate between years, causing concern among the states about the unpredictability and unevenness of program funding. In this context, the U.S. Department of Education commissioned the National Research Council to address the accuracy of the estimates from the two data sources and the factors that influence the estimates. The resulting book also considers means of increasing the accuracy of the data sources or alternative data sources that could be used for allocation purposes. |
| definition of proficient in a language: Issues in Language Testing J. Charles Alderson, Arthur Hughes, 1981 A symposium focusing on problems in the assessment of foreign or second language learning brought seven applied linguists together to discuss three areas of debate: communicative language testing, testing of English for specific purposes, and general language proficiency assessment. In each of these areas, the participants reviewed selected papers on the topic, reacted to them on paper, and discussed them as a group. The collected papers, reactions, and discussion reports on communicative language testing include the following: Communicative Language Testing: Revolution or Evolution (Keith Morrow) and responses by Cyril J. Weir, Alan Moller, and J. Charles Alderson. The next section, on testing of English for specific purposes, includes: Specifications for an English Language Testing Service (Brendan J. Carroll) and responses by Caroline M. Clapham, Clive Criper, and Ian Seaton. The final section, on general language proficiency, includes: Basic Concerns in Test Validation (Adrian S. Palmer and Lyle F. Bachman) and Why Are We Interested in General Language Proficiency'? (Helmut J. Vollmer), reactions of Arthur Hughes and Alan Davies, and the subsequent response of Helmut J. Vollmer. (MSE) |
| definition of proficient in a language: Second Language Speech Fluency Parvaneh Tavakoli, Clare Wright, 2020-12-17 Second language (L2) fluency is an exciting and fast-moving field of research, with clear practical applications in language teaching. This book provides a lively overview of the current advances in the field of L2 fluency, and connects the theory to practice, presenting a hands-on approach to using fluency research across a range of different language-related professions. The authors introduce an innovative multidisciplinary perspective, which brings together research into cognitive and social factors, to understand fluency as a dynamic variable in language performance, connecting learner-internal factors such as speech processing and automaticity, to external factors such as task demands, language testing, and pragmatic interactional demands in communication. Bringing a much-needed multidisciplinary and novel approach to understanding the complex nature of L2 speech fluency, this book provides researchers, students and language professionals with both the theoretical insights and practical tools required to understand and research how fluency in a second language develops. |
| definition of proficient in a language: Ultralearning Scott H. Young, 2019-08-06 Now a Wall Street Journal bestseller. Learn a new talent, stay relevant, reinvent yourself, and adapt to whatever the workplace throws your way. Ultralearning offers nine principles to master hard skills quickly. This is the essential guide to future-proof your career and maximize your competitive advantage through self-education. In these tumultuous times of economic and technological change, staying ahead depends on continual self-education—a lifelong mastery of fresh ideas, subjects, and skills. If you want to accomplish more and stand apart from everyone else, you need to become an ultralearner. The challenge of learning new skills is that you think you already know how best to learn, as you did as a student, so you rerun old routines and old ways of solving problems. To counter that, Ultralearning offers powerful strategies to break you out of those mental ruts and introduces new training methods to help you push through to higher levels of retention. Scott H. Young incorporates the latest research about the most effective learning methods and the stories of other ultralearners like himself—among them Benjamin Franklin, chess grandmaster Judit Polgár, and Nobel laureate physicist Richard Feynman, as well as a host of others, such as little-known modern polymath Nigel Richards, who won the French World Scrabble Championship—without knowing French. Young documents the methods he and others have used to acquire knowledge and shows that, far from being an obscure skill limited to aggressive autodidacts, ultralearning is a powerful tool anyone can use to improve their career, studies, and life. Ultralearning explores this fascinating subculture, shares a proven framework for a successful ultralearning project, and offers insights into how you can organize and exe - cute a plan to learn anything deeply and quickly, without teachers or budget-busting tuition costs. Whether the goal is to be fluent in a language (or ten languages), earn the equivalent of a college degree in a fraction of the time, or master multiple tools to build a product or business from the ground up, the principles in Ultralearning will guide you to success. |
| definition of proficient in a language: Handbook of Second Language Assessment Dina Tsagari, Jayanti Banerjee, 2016-03-07 Second language assessment is ubiquitous. It has found its way from education into questions about access to professions and migration. This volume focuses on the main debates and research advances in second language assessment in the last fifty years or so, showing the influence of linguistics, politics, philosophy, psychology, sociology, and psychometrics. There are four parts which, when taken together, address the principles and practices of second language assessment while considering its impact on society. Read separately, each part addresses a different aspect of the field. Part I deals with the conceptual foundations of second language assessment with chapters on the purposes of assessment, and standards and frameworks, as well as matters of scoring, quality assurance, and test validation. Part II addresses the theory and practice of assessing different second language skills including aspects like intercultural competence and fluency. Part III examines the challenges and opportunities of second language assessment in a range of contexts. In addition to chapters on second language assessment on a national scale, there are chapters on learning-oriented assessment, as well as the uses of second language assessment in the workplace and for migration. Part IV examines a selection of important issues in the field that deserve attention. These include the alignment of language examinations to external frameworks, the increasing use of technology to both deliver and score second language tests, the responsibilities associated with assessing test takers with special needs, the concept of 'voice' in second language assessment, and assessment literacy for teachers and other test and score users. |
| definition of proficient in a language: Equal Educational Opportunity and Nondiscrimination for Students with Limited English Proficiency United States Commission on Civil Rights, 1997 This report focuses on issues relating to the development and implementation of educational programs for and placement of national origin minority students identified as having limited English proficiency. It examines the present-day barriers that prevent students with limited English proficiency from having an equal opportunity to participate in educational programs. The report evaluates and analyzes the Office for Civil Rights' (OCR) implementation, compliance, and enforcement effort for Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Lau v. Nichols. |
| definition of proficient in a language: Bilingualism Across the Lifespan Elena Nicoladis, Simona Montanari, 2016-06-20 This book pioneers the study of bilingualism across the lifespan and in all its diverse forms. In framing the newest research within a lifespan perspective, the editors highlight the importance of considering an individual's age in researching how bilingualism affects language acquisition and cognitive development. A key theme is the variability among bilinguals, which may be due to a host of individual and sociocultural factors, including the degree to which bilingualism is valued within a particular context.Thus, this book is a call for language researchers, psychologists, and educators to pursue a better understanding of bilingualism in our increasingly global society. |
| definition of proficient in a language: The Development of a Common Framework Scale of Language Proficiency Brian North, 2000 Scales describing language proficiency in a series of levels can provide orientation for educational programmes, criteria for assessment, and reporting to stakeholders. However, in most cases such instruments are produced just by expert opinion. A scale of language proficiency actually implies a descriptive scheme related to theory but usable by practitioners. It also implies a methodology for scaling content to different levels. This book describes the use of both qualitative and quantitative techniques to develop scales for the «Common Reference Levels» in the Common European Framework of Reference for modern languages. Short stand-alone descriptors were (i) developed and classified, (ii) refined and elaborated in workshops, and then (iii) scaled by analyzing the judgments of one hundred teachers on the English language proficiency of the learners in their classes. |
| definition of proficient in a language: Language in Uniform Helen de Silva Joyce, Elizabeth A. Thomson, 2015-02-27 Language education and training are an important part of life for some men and women in uniform. Around the globe, police and military personnel are faced with language challenges in their domestic security duties, including interaction with overseas tourists and community members who speak any number of languages. They are also often called upon to manage international roles that require an understanding of languages other than their own, including participating in international policing initiatives and military deployments. Language in Uniform: Language Analysis and Training for Defence and Policing Purposes brings together a collection of papers that reflect the diverse work being done in the often overlooked Language for Specific Purposes (LSP) fields of defence, security and policing. As language learning is increasingly becoming an integral part of life in uniform, this volume extends the theoretical and practical understanding of LSP and acknowledges the ground-breaking work that has been and continues to be done with this approach in language teaching and assessment for defence, security and law enforcement purposes. |
| definition of proficient in a language: Language, Power and Pedagogy Jim Cummins, 2000-09-22 Population mobility is at an all-time high in human history. One result of this unprecedented movement of peoples around the world is that in many school systems monolingual and monocultural students are the exception rather than the rule, particularly in urban areas. This shift in demographic realities entails enormous challenges for educators and policy-makers. What do teachers need to know in order to teach effectively in linguistically and culturally diverse contexts? How long does it take second language learners to acquire proficiency in the language of school instruction? What are the differences between attaining conversational fluency in everyday contexts and developing proficiency in the language registers required for academic success? What adjustments do we need to make in curriculum, instruction and assessment to ensure that second-language learners understand what is being taught and are assessed in a fair and equitable manner? How long do we need to wait before including second-language learners in high-stakes national examinations and assessments? What role (if any) should be accorded students’ first language in the curriculum? Do bilingual education programs work well for poor children from minority-language backgrounds or should they be reserved only for middle-class children from the majority or dominant group? In addressing these issues, this volume focuses not only on issues of language learning and teaching but also highlights the ways in which power relations in the wider society affect patterns of teacher–student interaction in the classroom. Effective instruction will inevitably challenge patterns of coercive power relations in both school and society. |
| definition of proficient in a language: The Loom of Language Frederick Bodmer, 1985 Here is an informative introduction to language: its origins in the past, its growth through history, and its present use for communication between peoples. It is at the same time a history of language, a guide to foreign tongues, and a method for learning them. It shows, through basic vocabularies, family resemblances of languages -- Teutonic, Romance, Greek -- helpful tricks of translation, key combinations of roots and phonetic patterns. It presents by common-sense methods the most helpful approach to the mastery of many languages; it condenses vocabulary to a minimum of essential words; it simplifies grammar in an entirely new way; and it teaches a language as it is actually used in everyday life. |
| definition of proficient in a language: Promoting the Educational Success of Children and Youth Learning English National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Health and Medicine Division, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, Board on Science Education, Board on Children, Youth, and Families, Committee on Fostering School Success for English Learners: Toward New Directions in Policy, Practice, and Research, 2017-08-25 Educating dual language learners (DLLs) and English learners (ELs) effectively is a national challenge with consequences both for individuals and for American society. Despite their linguistic, cognitive, and social potential, many ELsâ€who account for more than 9 percent of enrollment in grades K-12 in U.S. schoolsâ€are struggling to meet the requirements for academic success, and their prospects for success in postsecondary education and in the workforce are jeopardized as a result. Promoting the Educational Success of Children and Youth Learning English: Promising Futures examines how evidence based on research relevant to the development of DLLs/ELs from birth to age 21 can inform education and health policies and related practices that can result in better educational outcomes. This report makes recommendations for policy, practice, and research and data collection focused on addressing the challenges in caring for and educating DLLs/ELs from birth to grade 12. |
| definition of proficient in a language: Measuring L2 Proficiency Pascale Leclercq, Amanda Edmonds, Heather Hilton, 2014-06-23 This volume brings together concrete ideas on identifying and measuring second language (L2) proficiency from different branches of SLA. The chapters introduce a range of tools for the evaluation of learners' language level with respect to both productive and receptive skills and provide a variety of answers to the question of how to assess L2 proficiency in a valid, reliable and practical manner. |
| definition of proficient in a language: Language and Cognition in Bilinguals and Multilinguals Annette M.B. de Groot, 2011-04-27 Psycholinguistics – the field of science that examines the mental processes and knowledge structures involved in the acquisition, comprehension, and production of language – had a strong monolingual orientation during the first four decades following its emergence around 1950. The awareness that a large part of mankind speaks more than one language – that this may impact both on the way each individual language is used and on the thought processes of bilinguals and multilinguals, and that, consequently, our theories on human linguistic ability and its role in non-linguistic cognition are incomplete and, perhaps, false – has led to a steep growth of studies on bilingualism and multilingualism since around 1995. This textbook introduces the reader to the field of study that examines language acquisition, comprehension and production from the perspective of the bilingual and multilingual speaker. It furthermore provides an introduction to studies that investigate the implications of being bilingual on various aspects of non-linguistic cognition. The major topics covered are the development of language in children growing up in a bilingual environment either from birth or relatively soon after, late foreign language learning, and word recognition, sentence comprehension, speech production, and translation processes in bilinguals. Furthermore, the ability of bilinguals and multilinguals to generally produce language in the intended language is discussed, as is the cognitive machinery that enables this. Finally, the consequences of bilingualism and multilingualism for non-linguistic cognition and findings and views regarding the biological basis of bilingualism and multilingualism are presented. The textbook’s primary readership are students and researchers in Cognitive Psychology, Linguistics, and Applied Linguistics, but teachers of language and translators and interpreters who wish to become better informed on the cognitive and biological basis of bilingualism and multilingualism will also benefit from it. |
| definition of proficient in a language: Fluent Forever Gabriel Wyner, 2014-08-05 NATIONAL BESTSELLER • For anyone who wants to learn a foreign language, this is the method that will finally make the words stick. “A brilliant and thoroughly modern guide to learning new languages.”—Gary Marcus, cognitive psychologist and author of the New York Times bestseller Guitar Zero At thirty years old, Gabriel Wyner speaks six languages fluently. He didn’t learn them in school—who does? Rather, he learned them in the past few years, working on his own and practicing on the subway, using simple techniques and free online resources—and here he wants to show others what he’s discovered. Starting with pronunciation, you’ll learn how to rewire your ears and turn foreign sounds into familiar sounds. You’ll retrain your tongue to produce those sounds accurately, using tricks from opera singers and actors. Next, you’ll begin to tackle words, and connect sounds and spellings to imagery rather than translations, which will enable you to think in a foreign language. And with the help of sophisticated spaced-repetition techniques, you’ll be able to memorize hundreds of words a month in minutes every day. This is brain hacking at its most exciting, taking what we know about neuroscience and linguistics and using it to create the most efficient and enjoyable way to learn a foreign language in the spare minutes of your day. |
| definition of proficient in a language: Advanced Proficiency and Exceptional Ability in Second Languages Kenneth Hyltenstam, 2016-07-25 While the literature on second language acquisition and use is overwhelmingly rich with respect to initial and intermediate stages of development, present knowledge of levels of ultimate attainment that are equal or close to that if native speakers has so far not been presented in a coherent manner. This is what the present volume aims to achieve. In addition to chapters that summarize what is currently known about the grammatical, lexical, and discourse features that continue to exhibit instability at the most advanced levels of second language development, the volume presents overviews of the incipient research on two unique learner populations, polyglots and employees in international call centres. Polyglots, defined as language users who are proficient in six or more second languages, may be considered second language learners par excellence. Call centre employees in economically less developed parts of the world are intriguing in how they cope with the high language proficiency requirements of their job. In conclusion, this book is relevant for all readers - both professionals and students - interested in the development of second language theory. For language teachers, the book provides insights that are profitable in classrooms for advanced learners. |
| definition of proficient in a language: Why TESOL? Eileen N. Ariza, 2002 |
| definition of proficient in a language: Teacher Language Awareness Stephen Andrews, 2007-08-09 Teacher Language Awareness (TLA) is an area of increasing interest to those involved in language teacher education. This book provides an introduction to the nature of TLA, assesses its impact upon teaching and its potential impact on learning. The book focuses specifically on grammar. It aims to encourage teachers and others involved in language education to think more deeply about the importance of TLA ad to adopt a more principled approach to the planning of those parts of their programmes assosciated with it. |
| definition of proficient in a language: The Handbook of Advanced Proficiency in Second Language Acquisition Paul A. Malovrh, Alessandro G. Benati, 2020-10-13 A comprehensive, current review of the research and approaches to advanced proficiency in second language acquisition The Handbook of Advanced Proficiency in Second Language Acquisition offers an overview of the most recent and scientific-based research concerning higher proficiency in second language acquisition (SLA). With contributions from an international team of experts in the field, the Handbook presents several theoretical approaches to SLA and offers an examination of advanced proficiency from the viewpoint of various contexts and dimensions of second language performance. The authors also review linguistic phenomena among advanced learners through the lens of phonology and grammar development. Comprehensive in scope, this book provides an overview of advanced proficiency grounded in socially-relevant domains of second language acquisition including discourse, reading, genre-based writing, and pragmatic competence. The authoritative volume brings together the theoretical accounts of advanced language use combined with solid empirical research. Includes contributions from an international collection of noted scholars in the field of second language acquisition Offers a variety of theoretical approaches to SLA Contains information on the most recent empirical research that contributes to an understanding of SLA Describes performance phenomena according to multiple approaches to SLA Written for scholars, students and linguists, The Handbook of Advanced Proficiency in Second Language Acquisition is a comprehensive text that offers the most recent developments in the study of advanced proficiency in the acquisition of a second language. |
| definition of proficient in a language: Developing Reading and Writing in Second-language Learners Diane August, Timothy Shanahan, 2008 Reporting the findings of the National Literacy Panel on Language-Minority Children and Youth, this book concisely summarises what is known from empirical research about the development of literacy in language-minority children and youth, including development, environment, instruction, and assessment. |
| definition of proficient in a language: Fluent in 3 Months Benny Lewis, 2014-03-11 Benny Lewis, who speaks over ten languages—all self-taught—runs the largest language-learning blog in the world, Fluent In 3 Months. Lewis is a full-time language hacker, someone who devotes all of his time to finding better, faster, and more efficient ways to learn languages. Fluent in 3 Months: How Anyone at Any Age Can Learn to Speak Any Language from Anywhere in the World is a new blueprint for fast language learning. Lewis argues that you don't need a great memory or the language gene to learn a language quickly, and debunks a number of long-held beliefs, such as adults not being as good of language learners as children. |
| definition of proficient in a language: English Language Proficiency Assessments for Young Learners Mikyung Kim Wolf, Yuko Goto Butler, 2017-05-25 English Language Proficiency Assessments for Young Learners provides both theoretical and empirical information about assessing the English language proficiency of young learners. Using large-scale standardized English language proficiency assessments developed for international or U.S. contexts as concrete examples, this volume illustrates rigorous processes of developing and validating assessments with considerations of young learners’ unique characteristics. In this volume, young learners are defined as school-age children from approximately 5 to 13 years old, learning English as a foreign language (EFL) or a second language (ESL). This volume also discusses innovative ways to assess young learners’ English language abilities based on empirical studies, with each chapter offering stimulating ideas for future research and development work to improve English language assessment practices with young learners. English Language Proficiency Assessments for Young Learners is a useful resource for students, test developers, educators, and researchers in the area of language testing and assessment. |
| definition of proficient in a language: Teaching English as a Second Language Angela L. Carrasquillo, 2013-10-15 First Published in 1994. Educators will welcome this cohesive and comprehensive volume on the research and practice of teaching English as a second language (TESOL). The author, director of the TESOL program at Fordham University Graduate School of Education, provides a holistic view of the field-its practical and philosophical considerations. Of particular interest is the coverage of such new research areas as ESL literacy, cultural literacy, thinking in a second language (TSL), and pragmatic writing. |
| definition of proficient in a language: Pedagogy Development for Teaching Online Music Johnson, Carol, Lamothe, Virginia Christy, 2018-05-11 With the shift towards online education, teaching and learning music has evolved to incorporate online environments. However, many music instructors, faculty, and institutions are being challenged on how to evolve their curriculum to meet these demands and successfully foster students. Pedagogy Development for Teaching Online Music is a critical scholarly resource that examines the nature of teaching and learning music in the online environment at the post-secondary level. Featuring a broad range of topics such as online and face-to-face instruction, instructional design, and learning management system, this book is geared towards educators, professionals, school administrators, academicians, researchers, and students seeking current research on designing online music courses using a social constructivist framework. |
| definition of proficient in a language: Language and Mathematics Education Judit N. Moschkovich, 2010-11-01 Issues of language in mathematics learning and teaching are important for both practical and theoretical reasons. Addressing issues of language is crucial for improving mathematics learning and teaching for students who are bilingual, multilingual, or learning English. These issues are also relevant to theory: studies that make language visible provide a complex perspective of the role of language in reasoning and learning mathematics. What is the relevant knowledge base to consider when designing research studies that address issues of language in the learning and teaching of mathematics? What scholarly literature is relevant and can contribute to research? In order to address issues of language in mathematics education, researchers need to use theoretical perspectives that integrate current views of mathematics learning and teaching with current views on language, discourse, bilingualism, and second language acquisition. This volume contributes to the development of such integrated approaches to research on language issues in mathematics education by describing theoretical perspectives for framing the study of language issues and methodological issues to consider when designing research studies. The volume provides interdisciplinary reviews of the research literature from four very different perspectives: mathematics education (Moschkovich), Cultural-Historical-Activity Theory (Gutiérrez, Sengupta-Irving, & Dieckmann), systemic functional linguistics (Schleppegrell), and assessment (Solano-Flores). This volume offers graduate students and researchers new to the study of language in mathematics education an introduction to resources for conceptualizing, framing, and designing research studies. For those already involved in examining language issues, the volume provides useful and critical reviews of the literature as well as recommendations for moving forward in designing research. Lastly, the volume provides a basis for dialogue across multiple research communities engaged in collaborative work to address these pressing issues. |
| definition of proficient in a language: FY 1988 Application for Grants Under Bilingual Education Program , 1986 |
| definition of proficient in a language: Issues on Skills and Competencies in Education (Penerbit USM) Munir Shuib et al, 2011 In order to sustain quality in education, students' and teachers' skills and competencies must be continuously enhanced. We cannot be complacent with the skills and competencies that we currently possess. Not only must we seek to enhance them, we must also learn to use them in new situations. We may even need new skills and competencies to keep up with new developments, technologies and challenges. This book is a compilation of selected papers presented at the National Conference of Skills and Competencies in Education 2008. Generally these papers may be divided into two groups: English language skills and competencies and instructional strategies in developing students' skills and competencies. The book features in-depth discourses by various academic members on issues, challenges and new trends pertaining to skills and competencies learnt, gained and taught in today's education. It is hoped that the publication of this book will boost interest and promote further studies among educators and researchers in the development of skills and competencies in education. Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia |
| definition of proficient in a language: Large-scale Assessment Programs for All Students Gerald Tindal, Thomas M. Haladyna, 2012-12-06 The need for a comprehensive volume that reviews both the processes and issues involved in developing, administering, and validating large-scale assessment programs has never been greater. These programs are used for many purposes, including instructional program evaluation, promotion, certification, graduation, and accountability. One of the greatest problems we face is how to deal with special needs and bilingual populations. Examining these processes and issues is the mission of this book. It is organized into the following five sections: Introduction, Validity Issues, Technical Issues, Implementation Issues, and Epilogue. Each chapter follows a common structure: Overview of critical issues, review of relevant research, descriptions of current assessment methodologies, and recommendations for the future research and practice. Written by nationally recognized scholars,Large-Scale Assessment Programs for All Students: Validity, Technical Adequacy, and Implementation will appeal to anyone seriously involved in large scale testing, including educators, policymakers, testing company personnel, and researchers in education, psychology, and public policy. |
| definition of proficient in a language: Standards-Based Instruction and Assessment for English Language Learners Mary Ann Lachat, 2004-04-15 In increasingly diverse classrooms, an understanding of standards-based instruction and assessment for ELLs is essential for achieving both excellence and equity in our education system. |
| definition of proficient in a language: Book Fiesta! Pat Mora, 2009-03-10 Take a ride in a long submarine or fly away in a hot air balloon. Whatever you do, just be sure to bring your favorite book! Rafael López's colorful illustrations perfectly complement Pat Mora's lilting text in this delightful celebration of El día de los niños/El día de los libros; Children's Day/Book Day. Toon! Toon! Includes a letter from the author and suggestions for celebrating El día de los niños/El día de los libros; Children's Day/Book Day. Pasea por el mar en un largo submarino o viaja lejos en un globo aerostático. No importa lo que hagas, ¡no olvides traer tu libro preferido! Las coloridas ilustraciones de Rafael López complementan perfectamente el texto rítmico de Pat Mora en esta encantadora celebración de El día de los niños/El día de los libros. ¡Tun! ¡Tun! Incluye una carta de la autora y sugerencias para celebrar El día de los niños/El día de los libros. The author will donate a portion of the proceeds from this book to literacy initiatives related to Children's Day/Book Day. La autora donará una porción de las ganancias de este libro a programas para fomentar la alfabetización relacionados con El día de los niños/El día de los libros. |
| definition of proficient in a language: Improvement in Standards of Language Proficiency and in Recruiting for the Foreign Service United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Foreign Relations, 1959 |
| definition of proficient in a language: Equal Educational Opportunity Project Series United States Commission on Civil Rights, 1996 |
| definition of proficient in a language: Improvement in Standards of Language Proficiency and in Recruiting for the Foreign Service United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Foreign Relations. Subcommittee on State Department Organization and Public Affairs, 1959 Considers (85) S. 3552, (86) S. 1243. |
| definition of proficient in a language: Encyclopedia of Diversity in Education James A. Banks, 2012-05-17 The diversity education literature, both nationally and internationally, is broad and diffuse. Consequently, there needs to be a systematic and logical way to organize and present the state of research for students and professionals. American citizens need to understand the dynamics of their increasingly diverse communities and institutions and the global world in which we live, work, and lead. With continually evolving information on diversity policies, practices, and programs, it is important to have one place where students, scholars, teachers, and policymakers can examine and explore research, policy, and practice issues and find answers to important questions about how diversity in U.S. education—enriched with theories, research and practices in other nations—are explained and communicated, and how they affect institutional change at both the K-12 and postsecondary levels. With about 700 signed entries with cross-references and recommended readings, the Encyclopedia of Diversity in Education (4 volumes, in both print and electronic formats) will present research and statistics, case studies, and best practices, policies, and programs at pre- and postsecondary levels. Diversity is a worldwide phenomenon, and while most of the entries in the Encyclopedia will focus on the United States, diversity issues and developments in nations around the world, including the United States, are intricately connected. Consequently, to illuminate the many aspects of diversity, this volume will contain entries from different nations in the world in order to illuminate the myriad aspects of diversity. From A-to-Z, this Encyclopedia will cover the full spectrum of diversity issues, including race, class, gender, religion, language, exceptionality, and the global dimensions of diversity as they relate to education. This four-volume reference work will be the definitive reference for diversity issues in education in the United States and the world. |
| definition of proficient in a language: Calcio: A History of Italian Football John Foot, 2010-01-21 The first history of Italian football to be written in English, ‘Calcio’ is a mix of serious analysis and comic storytelling, with vivid descriptions of games, goals, dives, missed penalties, riots and scandals in the richest and toughest league in the world. |
| definition of proficient in a language: Language Proficiency in Native and Non-native Speakers Jan H. Hulstijn, 2015-02-15 This book, written for both seasoned and novice researchers, presents a theory of what is called Basic and Higher Language Cognition (BLC and HLC), a theory aimed at making some fundamental issues concerning first and second language learning and bilingualism (more) empirical. The first part of the book provides background for and explication of the theory as well as an agenda for future research, while the second part reports on selected studies of language proficiency in native speakers, as well as non-native speakers, and studies of the relationship between literacy in a first and second language. Conceptual and methodological problems in measuring language proficiency in research on second language acquisition and bilingualism are also discussed. Further, the notion of levels of language proficiency, as rendered by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), is critically examined, suggesting ways of empirically investigating a number of questions that the CEFR raises but is not capable of answering. |
LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY DEFINITIONS - American River …
Able to read some personal and place names, street signs, office and shop designations, numbers and isolated words and phrases. Able to read simple prose, in a form equivalent to typescript or …
WIDA English Language Proficiency Levels - Potomac Middle …
WIDA English Language Proficiency Levels Level 1 – Entering /Beginner/Preproduction: The student does not understand or speak English with the exception of a few isolated words or expressions.
The Notions of Language Proficiency and - ed
among linguists and language teachers about whether language proficiency is organized as a unitary ability or multiple divisible competences. For this objective, it is necessary to begin this …
The UN Levels of Language Competence - A Reading Guide
One of the main components of this Framework is the definition of four levels of language proficiency, specifically in the context of the United Nations. The Framework and UN Levels aim …
PROFICIENCY LEVEL DEFINITIONS 4.2 PROFICIENCY 1 2 3 4 …
d grade span. The PLD are organized by the core language domains: Speaking, Listening, Reading, and Writing. The PLD are detailed explanations of what skills a student can be expected to …
Commonly Asked Questions and Answers Regarding Limited …
Who is a Limited English Proficient (LEP) individual? Individuals who do not speak English as their primary language and who have a limited ability to read, speak, write, or understand English can …
English Language Learner definitions Assessment AZELLA
Proficiency Level - The level of English language proficiency of an EL student, as determined by the AZELLA. The AZELLA proficiency levels are: (1) Pre-Emergent, (2) Emergent, (3) Basic, (4) …
Definition Of Proficient In A Language Copy - American Society …
Language Dominance in Bilinguals Jeanine Treffers-Daller,Carmen Silva-Corvalán,2016 With contributions from an international team of leading experts this volume offers new ways to …
Levels of Language Proficiency Level 1 Elementary proficiency
Levels of Language Proficiency Level 1 – Elementary proficiency This is the first and essential level of the scale, often called S-1 or Level 1. The following describes the traits of an ILR Level 1 …
Proficiency and Language Learners - ASCD
support students' language and subject-matter learning. The concept of proficiency combines fluency and accuracy. Proficient second language learners are able to speak, listen, read, and …
Language Acquisition Chart for English Language Learners (ELLs)
English Language Learners have varied ability in their first language. Proficiency levels are determined by the NYSITELL and NYSESLAT. 2. A student at this English language proficiency …
Defining English Language Proficiency for Malaysian Tertiary …
In defining the construct of language proficiency, a number of questions invariably come to mind: 1) What does it mean to be proficient in the language? 2) How is proficiency defined in the context …
Guidance for Limited English Proficient (LEP) Student …
1. What is the definition of a limited English proficient student? In order to be identified as an LEP student, a student must meet all parts (A-D) of the following definition of an LEP student. The …
Measuring academic language proficiency
What are some of the generic features of an academic language proficiency scale that could be used in the student learning process in a variety of CLIL contexts? How and to what effect can …
Definition Of Proficient In A Language (2024)
Department s Foreign Service Institute FSI provides intensive language instruction and assesses the proficiency of personnel before they are posted to a foreign country The requirement for …
Fact Sheet: “Students with limited English proficiency, or …
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) defines ELL/limited English proficient (LEP)5 students as individuals aged 3 to 21 years, enrolled or preparing to enroll in elementary or secondary …
Do Language Proficiency Levels Correspond to Language …
Language proficiency is defined as an individual's skill in language use for a specific purpose, and it can be evaluated through the application of a proficiency test (Richards, Platt and Platt, 1992).
Defining and Assessing Academic Language Proficiency
Proficiency assess-ment focuses on learners’ ability to use the language for functional com-munication, especially in the areas of advanced education, professional practice, and employment.
Definitions and Approaches to Measur ing Reading Proficiency
A rating of “proficient” generally means that a student has mastered age/grade level expectations. See below: The NAEP defines proficiency. as follows: • Basic —Denotes partial mastery of …
No Child Left Behind and the Definition of Proficient: What …
According to Ed Trust West (The ABCs of AYP, Raising Achievement for all Students, 2003) proficient means that students are on grade level and have passed the tests. Inconsistencies in …
LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY DEFINITIONS - American R…
Able to read some personal and place names, street signs, office and shop designations, numbers and isolated words and phrases. Able to read …
WIDA English Language Proficiency Levels - Potoma…
WIDA English Language Proficiency Levels Level 1 – Entering /Beginner/Preproduction: The student does not understand or speak …
The Notions of Language Proficiency and - ed
among linguists and language teachers about whether language proficiency is organized as a unitary ability or multiple divisible competences. For …
The UN Levels of Language Competence - A Reading Gu…
One of the main components of this Framework is the definition of four levels of language proficiency, specifically in the context of the …
PROFICIENCY LEVEL DEFINITIONS 4.2 PROFICIE…
d grade span. The PLD are organized by the core language domains: Speaking, Listening, Reading, and Writing. The PLD are detailed explanations of …
