ELL Testing Accommodations:
https://bilingualdictionaries.com/collections/dictionaries
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Updated guidance, August 2022:
**Next-Day completion of Testing is brand new, 8/22
State Exams:
An ELL taking the NYS Mathematics or Science exam should be provided with a translation or interpretation of the exam.
Yes, there's a difference:
Translation = A translation is a written copy of the exam in the student's home language. This will be provided by NYS. These exams are only translated into Spanish, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Korean, and Russian. Don't ask me why.
The student can be provided with both language editions (two books), but they must write in only ONE.
This can get confusing. Two books on a desk?
They can leave both books on the desk. However, when a student is provided with a translated edition of the exam, as well as the English copy, I usually ask them which language they feel most comfortable reading and writing in. Sometimes, it's obvious that they should use the translated edition.
I usually tell the student to keep that copy of the exam on their desk and to put the other copy (the copy of the test that they will not write in) under their chair, or I just hold onto it if they think they won't use it. If they need to use the other copy to help them comprehend something, they can use it. Otherwise, it can just stay where it is. They might not need or want it at all. Instruct the student to record all of their answers in the language that they feel most comfortable in.
If they choose to use the translation, it should be indicated on the student's answer sheet in the accommodations section. If the responses are written in their home language, it should also be indicated. Most likely, the ELL coordinator or the testing coordinator will fill in the accommodations section.
Interpretation = An interpreter will orally interpret the English exam into the student's home language. You can either secure an interpreter in-house (an educator or paraprofessional who speaks and reads the student's home language), or hire an interpreter from an external company. Geneva Worldwide is the DOE contracted vendor for oral interpretation services for school-led remote and onsite events. If an English language learner speaks a low-incidence language for which there are no translations available, an onsite interpreter may interpret the exam for them orally.
Ultimately, the student is being tested in math or science, not the comprehension of the English language. They will also be permitted to use bilingual glossaries (provided by NYS) or bilingual dictionaries. These dictionaries are the ones that provide word-to-word translation (ex. Spanish-English/English-Spanish dictionary). They do not provide definitions.
An ELL taking the NYS Mathematics or Science exam should be provided with a translation or interpretation of the exam.
Yes, there's a difference:
Translation = A translation is a written copy of the exam in the student's home language. This will be provided by NYS. These exams are only translated into Spanish, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Korean, and Russian. Don't ask me why.
The student can be provided with both language editions (two books), but they must write in only ONE.
This can get confusing. Two books on a desk?
They can leave both books on the desk. However, when a student is provided with a translated edition of the exam, as well as the English copy, I usually ask them which language they feel most comfortable reading and writing in. Sometimes, it's obvious that they should use the translated edition.
I usually tell the student to keep that copy of the exam on their desk and to put the other copy (the copy of the test that they will not write in) under their chair, or I just hold onto it if they think they won't use it. If they need to use the other copy to help them comprehend something, they can use it. Otherwise, it can just stay where it is. They might not need or want it at all. Instruct the student to record all of their answers in the language that they feel most comfortable in.
If they choose to use the translation, it should be indicated on the student's answer sheet in the accommodations section. If the responses are written in their home language, it should also be indicated. Most likely, the ELL coordinator or the testing coordinator will fill in the accommodations section.
Interpretation = An interpreter will orally interpret the English exam into the student's home language. You can either secure an interpreter in-house (an educator or paraprofessional who speaks and reads the student's home language), or hire an interpreter from an external company. Geneva Worldwide is the DOE contracted vendor for oral interpretation services for school-led remote and onsite events. If an English language learner speaks a low-incidence language for which there are no translations available, an onsite interpreter may interpret the exam for them orally.
Ultimately, the student is being tested in math or science, not the comprehension of the English language. They will also be permitted to use bilingual glossaries (provided by NYS) or bilingual dictionaries. These dictionaries are the ones that provide word-to-word translation (ex. Spanish-English/English-Spanish dictionary). They do not provide definitions.
Bilingual Dictionaries
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If a student has the translated edition of an exam, I don't see the need for the bilingual glossary. It's possible that the student may need the bilingual dictionary to help them with their written responses, so I always provide them with this accommodation.
Now, obviously, the NYS ELA exam actually does test a student's knowledge of the English language. They must read it in English and write their responses in English only. However, strangely enough, when an ELL takes the ELA exam, they are allowed to use bilingual dictionaries.
http://www.nysed.gov/bilingual-ed/schools/english-language-learnermultilingual-learner-assessment-testing-accommodations
page 66 in the ELL Policy and Reference Guide
Now, obviously, the NYS ELA exam actually does test a student's knowledge of the English language. They must read it in English and write their responses in English only. However, strangely enough, when an ELL takes the ELA exam, they are allowed to use bilingual dictionaries.
http://www.nysed.gov/bilingual-ed/schools/english-language-learnermultilingual-learner-assessment-testing-accommodations
page 66 in the ELL Policy and Reference Guide