Linguistic simplification of the NYS Global Regents Exam for English language learners.

Abstract

Within the United States there is a growing number of school-aged English Language learners enrolled in the education system. Currently, the content of state assessments is not accessible for English Language Learners as a result of developing English language proficiency. However, it is necessary to assess their content area knowledge while their English language skills develop, and therefore essential that more appropriate assessment measures are developed for English Language Learners. This curriculum project was developed for intended use with English Language Learners at the high school level who are preparing to take the New York State Global History and Geography Regents Examination. The primary purpose of this curriculum project is to modify, using linguistic simplification techniques, the New York State Global History and Geography Regents Examination in order to make the social studies content more accessible to English Language Learners. A secondary purpose of this curriculum project is to use linguistic simplification techniques to create a linguistically simplified social studies content area assessment, as these techniques have not previously been applied to content area assessments in this subject area.