When ELL students transition from a non-alphabetic language, what do they primarily need to develop?

ELL students transitioning from a non-alphabetic language to English must primarily focus on developing similar literacy skills in English. This includes understanding the alphabetic system, phonetics, and the conventions of reading and writing in English, which differ significantly from non-alphabetic languages. Unlike languages that use characters or symbols to represent concepts or syllables, English uses letters to create words and sentences, making the shift critical for literacy acquisition.

As these students learn to decode words and comprehend texts in English, they build a foundation that facilitates their overall reading and writing skills. This process is essential for their academic success and ability to communicate effectively in an English-speaking environment. Developing these literacy skills is crucial for their integration and engagement with content areas that rely heavily on reading and writing in English.