Research indicates that it generally takes 5-7 years to reach full proficiency in learning a new language. Our program is designed to meet the needs of all of our English Learners at all stages of their development.
WIDA provides a guide to linguistic development in the language domains of listening, speaking, reading, and writing, which are essential to multilingual student’s success in school. These domains are measured according to the five proficiency levels below:
Entering
pictorial or graphic representation of the language of the content areas;
words, phrases or chunks of language when presented with one-step commands, directions, questions or statements with visual and graphic support.
Emerging
general language related to the content areas;
phrases or short sentences;
oral or written language with phonological, syntactic or semantic errors that often impede the meaning of the communication when presented with one to multiple step commands, directions, questions, or a series of statements with visual and graphic support.
Developing
general and some specific language of the content areas;
expanded sentences in oral interaction or written paragraphs;
oral or written language with phonological, syntactic or semantic errors that may impede the communication but retain much of its meaning when presented with oral or written, narrative or expository descriptions with occasional visual and graphic support.
Expanding
specific and some technical language of the content areas;
a variety of sentence lengths of varying linguistic complexity in oral discourse or multiple, related paragraphs;
oral or written language with minimal phonological, syntactic, or semantic errors that do not impede the overall meaning of the communication when presented with oral or written connected discourse with occasional visual and graphic support.
Bridging
the technical language of the content areas;
a variety of sentence lengths of varying linguistic complexity in extended oral or written discourse, including stories, essays or reports;
oral or written language approaching comparability to that of English proficient peers when presented with grade level material.
