Exceptionality

Name

Definition & AB
Educ. Code

Characteristics &/or Observable

Behaviours

English
Language
Learners
(ELL)

Also known as
English Second
Language
Learners (ESL),
it is an
exceptionality in
which the
students first
learned
language is a
language other
than English.
This lack of
English
proficiency
makes full
participation in
learning
opportunities
difficult to the
students.

Coding:
Canadianborn (303)
Foreign-born
(301)

There is a wide range of

characteristics and behaviours
for ELL students. An overview
of these can be found at
http://www.learnalberta.ca/cont
ent/eslapb/documents/characte
ristics_of_english_language_lea
rners.pdf with respect to the
Proficiency Benchmarks.
Behaviours are organized into 5
different levels based on
English speaking ability. These
include: Beginning, Developing,
Expanding, Bridging and
Extending.
Students who are in the
Beginning Level show
behaviours such as high selfconsciousness, frustration and
fatigue as the day goes on, and
heavy reliance on visual
representations.
As students progress through
the levels, there is an increase
in their comfort speaking
English as well as their

Teaching Strategies &

Resources

Use a variety of
instruction and
assessment
strategies.
Use visuals during
instruction and
accompany print
material with
visuals for
clarification and
explanation.
Slow down your
speech and use
shorter sentences,
examples, gestures,
demonstrations,
and avoid
expressions or
sayings that are
only common in
your culture.
Follow predictable
routines.
Involve students
culture and family
in school events
and projects
Allow students to
substitute drawings,

Links &/or Sources

Alberta Education
English Second
Language Learne
http://education.a
a.ca/teachers/ais
es/esl.aspx

Supporting Englis
Language Learne
http://www.learna
a.ca/content/esla

http://www.eduto
g/blog/strategiesresources-suppor
ell-todd-finley we
is a portal to mul
other websites,
articles, and reso

http://education.j
u/PD/newhorizons
egies/topics/Engl
%20Language
%20Learners/Arti
ffective
%20Instructional
%20Strategies%2
%20English

confidence in learning.

Teachers of ELL students often

misjudge their language
abilities. There is an observable
difference between the
conversational language and
academic language these
students use. This
misunderstanding can lead to
misconceptions about the
intelligence or motivation
levels of ELL students. Jim
Cummins helped clarify this
disparity by introducing two
language continua called BICS
(Basic Interpersonal
Communicative Skills) and
CALP (Cognitive Academic
Language Proficiency). For
more information about BICS
and CALP visit
http://www.educ.ualberta.ca/sta
ff/olenka.Bilash/best%20of
%20bilash/bics%20calp.html.

pictures, or
diagrams, graphs,
charts for a written
assignment
Reduce length and
allow more time for
written assignments
For more specific
strategies and
activities, visit
http://www.educ.ual
berta.ca/staff/olenk
a.bilash/best%20of
%20bilash/strategie
sactivities.html

%20Language
%20Learners%20
%20Mainstream
%20Classrooms/

12 simple ways to
support ELL stude
the classroom
http://www.cultof
ogy.com/supporti
esl-studentsmainstream-class