ESL Acronyms and Terms

ESL terminology differs from state to state, district to district, and often from school to school. Below you will find the meanings of acronyms and terms that you will most likely see for the ESL students in your classrooms in our district.

Academic Language

This is language that can be found across content areas and includes common vocabulary that students need to know in order to succeed academically. Academic language can be used across content and include words such as discuss, infer, predict, and analyze.

ACCESS

This is the name of the English proficiency test that all active EL students take in January or February. The test has 4 parts: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. It not only tests students' English abilities, but also tests that students can use English in academic contexts. Scores range from 1.0-6.0 in each of the four areas as well as in an overall score.

Can Do Descripters

Language learning goals determined by WIDA for EL's for each of the four domains: reading, listening, writing, and speaking. Each student's goals are determined by their ACCESS scores and tell what a student can do and should be working to achieve.

CBE

Content-based ESL: Content instruction is delivered to ESL students by an ESL teacher in an ESL classroom. Instruction is generally in English; however, content is taught such as math or social studies.

EFL 

English as a foreign language

ELD

English language development

EL

English learner

ELL 

English language learner

ESL 

English as a second language

HLS

Home Language Survey: If parents mark on the home language survey that their child speaks a language other than English at home, we begin the ESL services screening process to see if the child qualifies for ESL services.

LEP

Limited English Proficent

Monitoring

The term monitoring is used to refer to previous ESL students who have exited the program within the last two years. ESL teachers monitor these students as Year 1 exited or Year 2 exited and keep up with their grades, test scores, and overall progress. Exited students may be brought back into the program if monitoring shows that they are struggling without ESL services.

POE

Pull Out ESL: This term is used to describe services that ESL students receive. POE students meet with an ESL teacher at least once a week, usually once a day to work on English skills and other necessary activities to ensure that ELs are succeeding in the classroom.

PSP

Program Service Plan: This is the document which shows what services students receive and which accommodations they receive in the classroom and in on assessments (K-PREP, MAP, etc.). All active ESL students receive these annually at the beginning of the school year and modifications/accommodations for students should be provided accordingly.

SEI

Sheltered English Instruction: English instruction that occurs in an ESL classroom with an ESL teacher with other ESL students. Instruction occurs in English and generally focuses on developing English skills.

SEN

Structured English Immersion: English instruction that occurs in the general education classroom with a general education teacher with students who are ESL and not ESL. Instruction occurs only in English. This is generally used for students who qualify for ESL, but are not receiving direct ESL services with an ESL teacher.

W-APT Screener

WIDA ACCESS Placement Test: Screener used for newcomers or students who have not previously received ESL services that determine a student's English proficiency. If a student is determined to have high English proficiency, he or she will not be given ESL services; however, kindergarten students are placed into ESL until 1st grade regardless to ensure that the academic vocabulary is there.

WIDA 

World-class Instructional Design and Assessment: WIDA is a consortium of states dedicated to the design and implementation of high standards and equitable educational opportunities for English language learners. These standards are used by 15 states, including Kentucky. ELL's language learning targets come from WIDA as well as their Can Do Descriptors.