[NIFL-ESL:10580] Re: Question re. LEP terminology

From: Hurtado, Margarita (MHurtado@air.org)
Date: Thu Nov 18 2004 - 23:45:07 EST


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From: "Hurtado, Margarita" <MHurtado@air.org>
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Subject: [NIFL-ESL:10580] Re: Question re. LEP terminology
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Thanks to all for your helpful comments.


Margarita
------------

-----Original Message-----
From: nifl-esl@nifl.gov [mailto:nifl-esl@nifl.gov] On Behalf Of
mdryden@mail.utexas.edu
Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2004 8:01 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: [NIFL-ESL:10579] Re: Question re. LEP terminology

Margarita,

"LEP has been widely used in K12; since I am not in that area, perhaps
someone can confirm if it is still commonly used there.  For me, it has
never had a respectful connotation.  It is seemingly used as an
adjective, a negative one that includes "deficient."

Irregardless of context, the word "learner," for me, is one of the most
positive terms we can use for a student. A "learner" is active, engaged,
and progressing--not static, like "deficient." I always use learner for
an adult learner, never LEP.  In fact, learner is used in the most
significant literature, in the US, to refer to adult ESL learners. I
would cringe if anyone called my adult students "LEP."

Maybe my views stem largely from my experience; however, I don't think
that anyone can deny the respect inherent in calling someone a
"learner," especially as opposed to "deficient."

Marianne Dryden


Quoting Ujwala Samant <lalumineuse@yahoo.com>:

> The title seems to be context-dependent from both your comments. It 
> also seems to be an administrative concern.
> I wonder how learners of English see the classes they take?
> regards,
> Ujwala Samant
> 
> 
> --- Marcia Willliams <mwilliams@atcaa.org> wrote:
> 
> > I think using ELL is more respectful and is in
> > keeping with our strengths 
> > based family literacy model.
> > Marcia Williams
> > 
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "Hurtado, Margarita" <MHurtado@air.org>
> > To: "Multiple recipients of list"
> > <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov>
> > Sent: Wednesday, November 17, 2004 5:11 PM
> > Subject: [NIFL-ESL:10569] Question re. LEP
> > terminology
> > 
> > 
> > > Hello,
> > > I am new to this area and a colleague just
> > mentioned to me that there is
> > > term in education that is used for students
> > instead of LEP that is ELL
> > > (English Language Learner).
> > > I have used LEP (Limited English Proficient) as a
> > term to refer to adult
> > > patients and consumers who are not fluent in
> > English and speak it as a
> > > second language.
> > >
> > > Which one of these is the most appropriate when
> > referring to adults who
> > > are not fluent in English and speak it as a second
> > language in the
> > > context of health care? That is, we want to refer
> > to those populations
> > > who may need an interpreter, a translated survey,
> > etc.
> > >
> > > Thanks for your help,
> > > Margarita
> > > --------------------------------
> > > Margarita P. Hurtado, Ph.D., M.H.S.
> > > Principal Research Scientist
> > > American Institutes for Research (AIR)
> > > 10720 Columbia Pike- Suite 500
> > > Silver Spring, MD 20901
> > > Voice: (301) 592-2215
> > > Fax: (301) 593-9433
> > > mhurtado@air.org
> > >
> > >
> > > 
> > 
> > 
> 
> 
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