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English Language Learners in U.S. College Classrooms

Supporting the academic success of English Language Learners in U.S. universities.

Language Diversity in Instruction & Assessment

These digests, published through the Center for Applied Linguistics' Web site (http://www.cal.org) provide a brief introduction to what's needed to fully support learners who speak English as a second language. This includes understanding the relationship between bilinguaglism and learning, addressing the needs of English language learners in the classroom, and developing ways of fairly evaluating students' performance by focusing more on intellectual merit rather than language proficiency.

Language, Diversity, and Learning: Lessons for Education in the 21st Century (PDF)
Sonia Nieto (Center for Applied Linguistics, 2010)
Source: http://www.cal.org/resources/digest/language-diversity-and-learning.html

Integrated Content and Language Instruction (PDF)
Arieh Sherris (Center for Applied Linguistics, 2008)
Source: http://www.cal.org/resources/digest/integratedcontent.html

Alternative Assessment and Second Language Study: What and Why? (Web)
Charles R. Hancock (Center for Applied Linguistics, 1994)
Source: http://www.cal.org/resources/digest/hancoc01.html

Further Research

Below, you will find a sampling of research articles on English as a Second Language (ESL) and English language learners (ELLs) in U.S. universities.  Topics include students' experiences and practices as well as educators' perspectives and instructional strategies, including assessment methods.  This list is meant to get readers started on these topics. Articles were chosen based on relevance and publication date.

Sections:
A. Learners & Educators
B. Instruction & Assessment

A. Learners and Educators


Note:
Entries are organized alphabetically by author.

Affective learning: the anxiety construct in adult learners.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2010.12.216
Bigdeli, S. (2010). Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences; 9 (674-678).

ESL students in first-year writing courses: ESL versus mainstream classes.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1060-3743(96)90020-X
Braine, G. (1996) Journal of Second Language Writing; 5, 2 (91-107).

A brief overview of individual differences in second language learning.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0346-251X(03)00045-9
Ehrman, M.E. et al (2003) System; 31,3 (313-330).

ESL students’ experiences of online peer feedback.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compcom.2007.03.002
Guardado, M. and Shi, L. (2007).  Computers and Composition; 24, 4 (443-461).

ESL students’ attitudes toward punctuation.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2012.01.006
Hirvela, A. et al (2012).  System; 40, 1, (11–23).

Transnational identifications: Biliterate writers in a first-year humanities course.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2006.01.001
Jarratt, S. et al (2006). Journal of Second Language Writing; 15, 1 (24-48).

The use of paraphrase in summary writing: A comparison of L1 and L2 writers.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2006.09.006
Keck, C. (2006).  Journal of Second Language Writing; 15, 4 (261-278).

Writing through two languages: First language expertise in a language minority classroom.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2010.04.001
Kibler, A. (2010). Journal of Second Language Writing; 19, 3 (121-142).

Writing teachers’ perceptions of the presence and needs of second language writers [...]
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2012.10.001
Matsuda, P.K. et al. (2013)Journal of Second Language Writing; 22, 1, (68–86).

Reading Anxiety among Second Language Learners.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.11.279
Rajab, A. et al (2012).  Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences; 66, 7 (362-369).

Negotiating grammatical choices: Academic language learning by secondary ESL students.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2009.01.002
Shin, S.J. (2009). System; 37, 3 (391-402).

A review of the acculturation experiences of international students.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2011.08.004
Smith, R.A. and Khawaja, N.G. (2011). International Journal of Intercultural Relations; 35, 6 (699-713).

[...] ESL student perspectives on web-based discussions in the classroom.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compcom.2004.08.004
Ware, P.D. (2004).  Computers and Composition; 21, 4 (451–468).

Academic Writing in a Second or Foreign Language [...]
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2012.07.003
Xu, S. (2012). Journal of Second Language Writing; 21, 4 (431–433).

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B. Instruction and Assessment

A reflection on ‘the language learning potential’ of written CF
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2012.09.006

Bitchener , J. (2012). Journal of Second Language Writing, 21(4), 348–363.

The effect of different types of corrective feedback on ESL student writing
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2005.08.001

Bitchener , J.  et al (2005). Journal of Second Language Writing, 14(3), 191–205.

George C. “Going up there”: Challenges and opportunities for language minority students [...]
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.linged.2009.04.001
Bunch, G. (2009). Linguistics and Education, 20(2), (81–108).

The efficacy of various kinds of error feedback [...]
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1060-3743(03)00038-9
Chandler, J. (2003).  Journal of Second Language Writing, 12(3), 267–296.

Empowering ESL students: A new model for information literacy instruction
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0734-3310(02)00064-2
Conteh-Morgan M.E. (2001). Research Strategies, 18(1) (29–38).

The process-oriented ESL writing assessment: Promises and challenges
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2006.09.003
Lee, Y-J. (2006). Journal of Second Language Writing, 15(4), 307–330.

Teaching coherence to ESL students: a classroom inquiry
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1060-3743(02)00065-6
Lee, I. (2002). Journal of Second Language Writing, 11(2), 135–159.

A study on the use of computerized concept mapping to assist ESL learners’ writing
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2011.03.015

Liu, P-L. (2011). Computers & Education, 57(4), 2548–2558.

Teaching and assessing academic writing via the portfolio [...]
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.asw.2011.02.005
Romova, Z. and Andrew, M. (2011). Assessing Writing, 16(2) 111–122.

Using portfolios to assess the writing of ESL students: a powerful alternative?
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1060-3743(02)00053-X

Song, B. and August, B. (2002). Journal of Second Language Writing, 11(1), 49–72.

Evaluating student learning in a university-level EAP unit on writing using sources
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2010.06.002
Wette, R. (2010). Journal of Second Language Writing, 19(3), 158-177.

Effect of instruction on ESL students’ synthesis writing.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2012.12.001
Zhang, C. (2013). Journal of Second Language Writing. 22(1), 51-67.

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