FAQ

What's with all the acronyms? What do they all mean?

Student:
ELL: English language learner
LTELL: long term English language learner
SIFE: student with interrupted formal education

Program:
ENL: English as a New Language 
ESL: English as a Second Language
ESOL: English to Speakers of Other Languages
TESOL: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

What websites do you recommend for ELLs and their families?

For learning English, check these sites out:

                   

     
Colorín Colorado is a bilingual site that offers free activities, information and advice for educators and families.


How long does it take to learn English?

Broadly speaking, ELLs often acquire peer-appropriate conversational fluency in English within about 2 years, but it requires considerably longer (5-10 years) to catch up academically in English (Collier, 1987; Cummins, 1984).  The most significant variable in how long it takes to learn English is the amount of formal schooling students have received in their first language.


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