Lecture Notes: Understanding BICS and CALP in Language Acquisition

Key Concepts

• BICS: Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills

  • Also known as the playground or social language.
  • Includes simple conversational skills (e.g., "Hi, how are you?" "I'm fine, how are you?").
  • Acquired relatively quickly, often within 1-2 years.
  • Some students may acquire BICS faster, especially those with prior exposure to English.

• CALP: Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency

  • Refers to academic language skills necessary for success in academic settings.
  • Takes longer to develop, typically 5-7 years.
  • Essential for understanding and succeeding in content classes.

Importance in Education

• Discrepancy Between BICS and CALP:

  • Students may appear language proficient through social interaction but may struggle academically.
  • Teachers should be aware that good BICS does not imply good CALP.

• Teacher's Role:

  • Incorporate activities in lessons that support the development of CALP.
  • Recognize that developing CALP requires time and consistent effort.

Instructional Strategies

• SIOP Method: Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol
  • A lesson plan format designed to support English language learners in developing CALP.
  • Useful in helping students acquire the necessary content language skills.

Time Considerations

• Recognizing that CALP development spans several years.
  • Teachers should not expect full proficiency at the end of one or two years.

Summary

• Understanding the distinction between BICS and CALP is crucial for educators working with English language learners.
• Focus on long-term development and use structured methods like SIOP to support students' academic language acquisition.