Underrepresentation of ELL Students
Although the overrepresentation of ELL students in Special Education is a problem, the issue of ELL students being underrepresented in the gifted population is also an issue of concern. ELL students are often overlooked for their extreme intelligence and academic capabilities because of their ability levels with the English language. Many educators have the misconception that if the student has broken English, they are not academically equal to their peers. Although it takes extreme intelligence to be able to master two languages, many around the world view these ELL students as having a handicap when they cannot speak the country's language as fluent as their peers. Unfortunately, ELL students do not get the same opportunities for enrichment as their peers because of their language barriers.
One of the biggest problems that contributes to the lack of consideration for ELL students in the gifted programs is the teacher's perception and opinion of what they think the ELL student is capable of doing. If the teacher has a bias on what children from other cultures or countries are capable of achieving, his or her standards for the ELL students will be lowered. As discussed on previous pages, assessment can play a large role in the placement of ELL students, as well as the perception of what they are capable of. Many educators and school personnel assess ELL students incorrectly with bias test, which results in inaccurate testing results. This would not allow the educational team to see if the ELL student needed enrichment or remediation. It is important for teachers to know their students, their interests, their ability levels, and their needs. It is the teacher's responsibility to provide the ELL student with positive encouragement and motivate them to reach their highest possible academic potential.
One of the biggest problems that contributes to the lack of consideration for ELL students in the gifted programs is the teacher's perception and opinion of what they think the ELL student is capable of doing. If the teacher has a bias on what children from other cultures or countries are capable of achieving, his or her standards for the ELL students will be lowered. As discussed on previous pages, assessment can play a large role in the placement of ELL students, as well as the perception of what they are capable of. Many educators and school personnel assess ELL students incorrectly with bias test, which results in inaccurate testing results. This would not allow the educational team to see if the ELL student needed enrichment or remediation. It is important for teachers to know their students, their interests, their ability levels, and their needs. It is the teacher's responsibility to provide the ELL student with positive encouragement and motivate them to reach their highest possible academic potential.