English Language Learning

This report is a synthesis of research, challenges, and best practices in the education of secondary English Language Learners (ELLs). It incorporates a summary of three days of presentations and discussions by key national experts in the spring of 2005, observations and findings from the authors' own research, and key issues from the research literature.

How can educators distinguish between learning disabilities and language difficulties? Historically in the United States, there has been a tendency to refer English language learners (ELLs) inappropriately to special education. This has led to the overidentification of ELLs as having special education needs and a disproportionate representation of ELLs in special education.

The Online Writing Lab (OWL) Web site offers materials for English as a Second Language (ESL) students and teachers, which include resource pages, handouts, exercises, and PowerPoint presentations. Printer-friendly and Adobe PDF versions of these handouts and exercises are available. Resources related to spelling, grammar, writing are accessible through this site.

CREATE, the National Research and Development Center for English language learners, is conducting a program of research designed to address specific challenges in the education of English language learners in the middle grades (Grades 4-8). Their website--http://www.cal.org/create/index.html--provides information on events, research, and publications.