Assembly Bill 705 (AB 705) sought to increase successful completion of transfer-level math and English courses by addressing systemic problems in traditional placement policies and curricular structures. The law requires colleges to maximize the probability that students who enroll in credit English as a second language (ESL) courses complete…

These technical appendices are for the report, "English as a Second Language at California's Community Colleges: An Early Examination of AB 705 Reforms." Assembly Bill 705 (AB 705 Irwin) sought to increase successful completion of transfer-level math and English courses by addressing systemic problems in traditional placement policies…

When student placement in French classes by achievement test scores and number of years of previous study became unreliable, the faculty of a university constructed a placement test of grammar and vocabulary for four intermediate courses. The test has been revised twice, with oral comprehension and reading items added, other items subtracted, and…

The problems associated with integrating limited-English-speaking students into English-speaking college classrooms are difficult to resolve. Beginning in fall 1998, the American College Testing Programs' new computer-adaptive English-as-a-Second-Language Assessment Battery, designed for use in postsecondary education programs, will help identify…

Placement tests determine whether a student has mastered certain skills and content for a particular job or course of study and also help to identify students' weaknesses, which can then be targeted for improvement. Placement test objectives should be clearly defined, and design and administration are also crucial. If students are misclassified,…

Suggests strategies for teaching English as a second language to non-English speaking students in small schools and warns of possible cultural differences which may lead to misunderstandings. (MH)

The handbook contains ideas, worksheets, and sample forms to assist in the administration of volunteer programs teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) to refugees. Chapters address: (1) planning (finding a coordinator, planning the program, assessing the need, and defining the volunteer's job); (2) recruitment (locating volunteer teachers,…

The Carleton Academic English Language (CAEL) Assessment is a criterion-referenced test developed at Carleton University (Canada). It combines logic of performance testing with ethics of gradual admission, i.e., that limited-English-speaking students should be allowed to begin limited academic study in English, based on language proficiency and…

This guide discusses the ways in which educators in technical and vocational education programs can maximize opportunities for limited-English-proficient students to learn English language skills. Vocational classrooms are viewed as potentially excellent environments for language learning because of the hands-on nature of the work, undertaken in…

A guide to designing programs in English language arts for limited English proficient (LEP) students is intended for school districts to use in developing their own program manuals based on locally relevant needs. An introductory section gives background for LEP program development, and subsequent sections outline (1) identification procedures for…

This guide is intended to assist adult educators whose job it is to teach English as a second language (ESL) to adult learners. The first several sections discuss the characteristics of students likely to be enrolled in ESL classes; the qualities that a teacher needs to be able to relate successfully to adult ESL students; and procedures for…

An examination of the applicability of self-assessment as a tool for student placement in foreign language instruction focused on: (1) the ability of first-year university students to assess their performance level in the second language through a self-assessment questionnaire; (2) the quality of the questionnaire itself and its potential for…

A program and curriculum guide intended for teachers, counselors, and administrators concerned with English-as-a-second-language (ESL) instruction in Prince George's County public secondary schools is presented. The guide describes the intensive language program; academic and cultural problems often found within the school and related to the…

This comprehensive and easy-to-read book explores both the theory and practice of English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) assessment and is full of work samples, ideas, organizers, and personal experiences that all readers can use or adapt for their own situations. The primary goal is to provide proven and effective assessment methods. As ESL students…

A guide to instruction in English as a second language (ESL) in Alberta's junior high schools describes approaches and techniques to promote the language development of ESL students in all areas of the curriculum. The first section outlines the stages of cross-cultural adaptation and their implications for the classroom teacher. The second section…