ELL Assessment for Linguistic Differences vs. Learning Disabilities
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Home› Languages› Spanish› Written Language› Comprehension

Comprehension

Understanding of Message Encoded in Written Text   Reading comprehension is a complex cognitive process that is highly influenced by the student’s vocabulary knowledge in both languages L1+ L2 because vocabulary plays a critical role in the understanding of what has been read. Comprehension is also influenced by the student’s cultural funds of knowledge, which may be very different from what a teacher may be familiar with and expect.

L1 – Primary/Native language
L2 – Second language

Components Classroom Implications
Main ideas and details
  • ELL students should be familiar with contents behind the text.
  • Be aware that students may not yet have the conceptual skill of synthesizing the info and may give you a detail instead of the main idea.
Order of events
  • Depending on culture, sequence of events may not follow the linear sequence of English (e.g., time order might be organized according to order of importance). This manifests itself in retellings and in writing.
Cause and effect
  • Take into consideration each child’s different cultural, linguistic, religious and background knowledge. Please ask the student why, when a response may sound odd such as, Why does it rain in this story? Response: Because God sent the rain.
Comparison
  • Make sure that students understand the following prerequisites for comparing behavior:
    • Classification
    • Similarities and differences
    • Analogies

Other Implications

Preparation of teachers in linguistic and cultural factors to better equip ELL students with thinking strategies is essential to the understanding of text comprehension.

 
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