(NAME-MCE) question re ESL and Praxis tests

[jean miller]

I don't know anything about the Praxis Test, but it sounds as though you are talking about what we call "Generation 1.5."  These are students who came to the U.S. usually between the ages of 4-12.  They learned a lot of their English "by ear" and are orally fluent and fully conversant with U.S. culture.  Since they mostly speak their home language with family (and sometimes with friends), their writing and in some cases vocabulary shows vestiges of the confusions or difficulties shown in the writing of more traditional ESL students. 
 There's been quite a lot written lately about Generation 1.5, including Generation 1.5 Meets College Composition: Issues in the Teaching of Writing To U.s.-Educated Learners of ESL edited by Linda Harklau, Kay M. Losey, Meryl Siegal.
 regards,
 jean
 

Sandra OBrien <obrien at morningside.edu> wrote: 

I am looking for some research data and/or articles regarding the Praxis
Tests for students who grew up as ESL.  I have many college students for
whom English was not their first language and they appear to be very
fluent in English.  They all seem to have trouble with the reading and
writing parts of the Praxis tests .  Can anyone help with any information
on this topic?


Sandi O'Brien
Director of Diversity Affairs
Morningside College


"The world in which you were born is just one model of reality.
Other cultures are not failed attempts at being you.  Rather, they
are unique manifestations of the human spirit."  --Wade Davis









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jean miller
 english department, de anza college
 408.864.5530
 "There is a strange kind of enigma associated
 with the problem of racism.  No one, or almost
 no one, wishes to see themselves as racist;
 still racism persists.  Albert Memmi, Racism

       
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