Return-Path: <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.9.3/8.9.0.Beta5/980425bjb) with SMTP id VAA08771; Fri, 10 Dec 1999 21:06:47 -0500 (EST) Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 21:06:47 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <OFAFAE06DD.780355A0-ON86256844.0005DA08@esc01.esconett.org> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: mdryden@esconett.org To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-ESL:3841] BEST survival levles X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii X-Mailer: Lotus Notes Release 5.0 March 30, 1999 Status: RO Content-Length: 1843 Lines: 40 I am a highly experienced ESL administrator and teacher; in fact, I am earning my doctorate in ESL. I have been away from TESOL membership for a while--I have always worked fulltime as I have earned my MA and doctorate, so I cannot handle everything, even some important things. I have worked with both immigrants and refugees for many yearas. My experience running a refugee program has earned me almost a decade of experience with the BEST test. I felt confused recently when I read "Student Performance Levels for ESL," a chart that is page A-1 of the Proposed Quality Indicators for Adult Education ESOL Programs, which classifies students who have scored 58+ on the BEST as advanced learners. The MELT curriculum classifies SPL's 6 and 7 (58 and ABOVE) as advanced learners, on a SURVIVAL scale. The BEST scale, of course, describes survival English. The document which could have originated from TESOL lists the next level of learning, beyond advanced, as "post secondary." It classifies, in fact, an adult learner of SPL 7 as "post secondary". My experience with adult learners is that they are still at the survival learning level. The document goes on to say that learners of SPL 8 are "proficient". My experience with learners of SPL 8 is that does not seem to be accurately described as "proficient." I am concerned because our state has suggested that we exit learners at BEST scores of 65. I say students who score 90 still need us; their levels merit tuition-free adult education programs. As an example, Survival English learners who have recently earned the scores to make a perfect score (around 90) on the BEST are most often not prepared for GED classes, should they lack a high school diploma from their native country. What is the definition of "post-secondary" here? What is meant here by "proficient"?
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