In all of my experiences teaching at the university level, non-native English speakers are not allowed extra time if they are not enrolled in the university's English language program. If they are, they are given extra time. These programs typically last 1-2 semesters till the student has been released. One problem I've experienced though is administrators who waive the requirement without understanding the need. The student then takes classes above their English ability and does poorly and claims that they need extra time. Teachers, being the sympathetic people we are, want to offer the students extra time, but technically/legally, we shouldn't. If they have been released (and in almost all cases they want to be released), they loose the extra time on tests that they would have had had they stayed in the program. Some universities, such as the University of Minnesota Twin Cities hold firm to this policy and, to the best of my knowledge, don't allow administrators/advisors to waive this for their students. Other universities that I know of that will remain nameless in my posts, waive this policy. I think they don't want to loose their students/keep their tuition.
As a licensed K-12 ESL and ELA instructor who works in secondary and post-secondary institutions, I can say that in the K-12 area, students are allowed extra time if they have an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) that states that they should be given extra time. In most cases, these students will also be in an ESL class. If they don't have an IEP, they are not entitled to extra time.
In either situation, it is not up to the instructor to make the decision to give them extra time. That said, if an instructor wants to give all students extra time, that is allowed, but the instructor may not discriminate between native/non-native English speakers. So, unless the student has an IEP, has been diagnosed with a disability (such as my son who has mild cerebral palsy), or is enrolled part/full time in the post-secondary ESL program, they shouldn't get extra time. That said, students enrolled in at an ESL program at the post-secondary levle are not allowed extra time if the course they are taking is in the ESL program - that is unless they have a diagnosed medical disability that enables them to do so or unless the teacher gives extra time to everyone.
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John Atella
Duluth ISD709
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-03-2017 23:38
From: MerriLee Leonard
Subject: Extended exam time for multilingual college students?
Hello, John
Re: “The small liberal arts college where I work is discussing what to do when extended exam time is requested by a student whose strongest language is not English." c) ways of assessing whether somebody is processing English more slowly. John Atella, Duluth ISD709.
Could your institution consider having an interpreter or a second reader to assist her during exam. Could you be the upper-hand who can take the initiative to discuss this matter with the Dean. The consideration to allow for such an accommodation for this special sub-group of students is very valid. Their struggle due to language deficiencies and other factors are reality situations for them. You have mentioned assessment, we have to educate these language learners from an angle of what they already know and don’t know—and what they can do in the classroom.
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MerriLee Leonard
M.A.Ed., TESL
University Teacher
United States
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-03-2017 03:45
From: John Atella
Subject: Extended exam time for multilingual college students?
Good question. Most universities have the policy that if a student who has been fully matriculated and is not in some kind of ESL enrichment course/program should be treated the same as native English speakers without a disability. Even though English may not be their native language, if their TOEFL score meets the university's minimum standard, say 80, they would not be considered to have a disability. They should be treated the same. As I said though, if a student does not meet the minimum requirement for the university and is put in an ESL enrichment course, while the student is still in that program and does not meet the minimum requirements, the student should be considered to have a "disability" and should be given additional time to take tests (usually time and a half). For most universities, this kind of allowance is given for 1-2 semesters and the student is usually restricted in the maximum number of credits (for example maybe 15) that they can take. The disability officially ends though when they meet the university's requirements. To give them additional time after the fact gives them an advantage with their peers which their native English speaking peers could then said to be discriminated against based on the fact that English was their native tongue.
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John Atella
Duluth ISD709
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Original Message:
Sent: 01-03-2017 11:09
From: Renata Fitzpatrick
Subject: Extended exam time for multilingual college students?
Hello everyone,
The small liberal arts college where I work is discussing what to do when extended exam time is requested by a student whose strongest language is not English. I've been asked to work with the Disabilities office even though there is no known disability, but only the possibility that the student is being slowed down as she processes the text and writes her short paragraph responses while shuttling (to use Canagarajah's term) between at least two other languages besides English. I am interested in
a) how other institutions respond to this issue
b) good articles or books on language processing time
c) ways of assessing whether somebody is processing English more slowly
Any suggestions welcome.
Thanks,
Renata
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Renata Fitzpatrick
Carleton College
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