Welcome to your journey! Being multilingual is your superpower. This page is here to help you master English, ace your assessments, and lead in your classrooms.

1. Welcome to the Team! (Tips for Newcomers)

Starting at a new school in a new language is a big transition. Here is how to start strong:

• Find Your "Language Buddy": Connect with a classmate who can help you navigate the hallways and lunchroom.

• Don’t Fear Mistakes: Every mistake is just your brain growing. Even native English speakers make mistakes!

• Use Visuals: Use Google Lens or a translation app to scan signs and menus to build your "environmental" vocabulary.

• Ask for Scaffolds: It’s okay to ask your teacher for a graphic organizer, a word bank, or a translated summary of the lesson.

To move from "Progressing" to "Transitioning" on the English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT), focus on these four areas:

• Speaking: Practice "Think-Alouds." Narrate what you are doing while you cook, clean, or play games to build fluency.

• Listening: Watch your favorite movies or YouTube creators in English with English subtitles turned on. This connects the sound of the word to its spelling.

• Reading: Focus on "Signal Words." Words like however, therefore, and consequently are the keys to understanding complex academic texts.

• Writing: Use sentence starters. Don't worry about writing a perfect paragraph yet—focus on completing strong, academic sentences.

Master the format of the test so you can focus on your language skills on testing day.

• LDOE Practice Tests: ELPT Online Tools Training – Familiarize yourself with the online testing tools (highlighter, sticky notes, etc.).

• Interactive Quizzes: ELPT Speaking Practice – Practice listening and responding to prompts similar to the real exam. (You will need to be logged in to a Gemini account prior to clicking on the link.)

• Recording Practice: Use Google Docs to record yourself reading a text and see how well it understands you. To open the microphone on a Google Doc: Click Tools > Voice Typing