ESL Terms and Definitions

English Learner (EL): describes students who have limited English proficiency (LEP). ELs are defined as students who do not understand enough academic English to learn without support in mainstream classrooms.

English as a Second Language (ESL): programs for English Language Learners (ELs) which provide students with explicit instruction in the English language. Teachers who work with students who have limited English proficiency are referred to as ESL teachers. Like all educators at PHA, ESL teachers must obtain appropriate licensure through the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Sheltered English Immersion (SEI): a model of instruction for English Language Learners in which content instruction is provided in English, but structured in a way that supports students with limited English proficiency.

Re-thinking Equity and Teaching for English Language Learners (RE-TELL): a comprehensive initiative (including regulations) designed to improve outcomes for English Language Learners in Massachusetts. Re-tell includes modifications to curriculum standards, assessments and professional development/licensure requirements for teachers.

ACCESS: the new statewide tool to monitor the language proficiency development of ELs. This assessment is administered annually to ELs in grades K-12 and measures language proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing. 

World Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA): The WIDA Consortium is a non-profit cooperative group whose purpose is to develop standards and assessments that meet and exceed the goals of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and promote educational equity for English language learners (ELLs). Massachusetts became a member of WIDA as a component of the RE-TELL initiative in November of 2012 and we have since adopted the WIDA curriculum standards and assessment tools (ACCESS).