There is great need to understand individuals' functional language abilities, not only in education but in commerce and public policy discussion. The aim is to quantify language use patterns, proficiency, and dominance in the two languages of bilinguals. The Bilingual Language Profile (BLP) is an instrument for assessing language dominance through self-reports that is concise, quick, and easy to use. The BLP is intended to produce a continuous dominance score and a general bilingual profile taking into account a variety of linguistic variables. The BLP is an open and free assessment tool for researchers, educators, and anyone with an interest in assessing language dominance.

Students explore the idea of ńcrossing boundariesî through bilingual, spoken-word poetry, culminating in a poetry slam at school or in the community.

This video presents a Classroom Close-up lesson that helps English learners develop their language skills in a meaningful way. English learners will be provided with an autobiography assignment that gives ELs the opportunity to research their family histories and hone in their writing and speaking while encouraging and building their confidence.

This publication is additional guidance for states, districts, and schools and was produced by the National Center for English Language Acquisition (NCELA) under the  U.S. Department of Education. This resource is essential to following the obligations under federal law to ensure that English learners have equal access to high-quality education and achieve their academic potential. 

Follow an Iraqi refugee and learn how his experience in an inclusive charter school has helped his English language skills, in this video from NOVA: School of the Future. In 2013, high schooler Murtada Mahmood arrived in Massachusetts from Iraq speaking only broken English. Because he was placed in a class for English learners (ELs) and separated from the school’s student body, his language skills suffered. After switching to KIPP Academy in Lynn, where ELs are included in regular classes, Mahmood’s self-image improved. As his English skills developed, he raised his expectations for what he could accomplish. This resource is part of the NOVA: School of the Future Collection.

Help Spanish-speaking English-language learners unlock the mysteries of their new language by using a bilingual book to recognize unfamiliar words and construct meaning from the text.

After analyzing "Family Pictures/Cuadros de Familia" by Carmen Lomas Garza, students create a class book with artwork and information about their ancestry, traditions, and recipes, followed by a potluck lunch.