1. 1. Speech and Language Assessment with English Language Learners By: Kelsey White
2. 2. Why did I choose this project? As a graduate student in Speech and Language Pathology I have administered many speech and language assessments but I have never administered an assessment with someone who spoke any other language than English. As a future Speech and Language Pathologist it is vital that I become familiar with assessing English Language Learners, because I will likely be encountering them through-out my time working in a school.
3. 3. Why did I choose this project cont. By becoming familiar with the best assessment methods for working with an English Language Learner student, I will more easily be able to determine if my student is displaying a language/speech delay, or a language/speech difference.
4. 4. What have I learned What I have learned is that it is always best to assess a student in his/her native language and that one standardized test is not a comprehensive approach to identifying if an individual has a communication impairment. The best approach to assessing an ELL student is to combine the use of both a standardized test (when possible), and dynamic assessment that emphasizes the learning process. This is so that the clinician obtains a good picture of the students abilities and deficits. It is also sometimes necessary that when assessing ELL students in another language other than our own that a translator be used.
5. 5. What I have learned cont. The America-Speech-Language-Hearing Association provides a comprehensive list of all assessments including ones in multiple languages to be used with students who are ELL.
6. 6. How will I use this information? Through using appropriate methods for assessing students who are English Language Learners I will be able to gain the information I need to make an accurate diagnosis and identify the needs of the students. After identifying these needs and deficits I will be better equipped to decide the goals that are the most appropriate for the student. From the skills learned from this project I will be better informed and more competent when working with English Language Learners in the future