What strategies can accommodate English learners in assessments?

Offering extra time and simplified language is an effective strategy for accommodating English learners in assessments because it addresses two critical challenges they often face: language proficiency and processing time.

When extra time is provided, it helps alleviate the pressure that English learners may feel during the assessment. This allows them to think more thoroughly about their responses and better manage their time, which is particularly important when dealing with complex language structures or unfamiliar vocabulary.

Simplified language is also crucial, as it helps remove barriers created by linguistic complexity that may distort a learner’s understanding of the questions. By presenting material in clearer and more straightforward language, assessments become more equitable, allowing English learners to demonstrate their knowledge and skills without being hindered by language difficulties.

Together, these accommodations promote a fairer assessment environment, enabling English learners to perform to the best of their abilities.