Alexis Vazquez
Second Language Acquisition & Academic Language Development
BIC vs. CALP Jim Cummins' Iceberg Theory
- BICS develops fast, but CALP takes yearsand is critical for academic success
- Emergent bilinguals must master both social and academic language
- Teachers should support CALP since it’s the foundation for learning in school.
Three Pillars of Academic Language
Discourse
Syntax & Grammar
Vocabulary Knowledge
Academic and subject-specific words students need to understand content.
Organizing language in essays, reports and classroom discussions.
Using correct sentence structures, tenses and voice to express ideas.
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Challenges Teacher Face with EBs
SIOP-Based Action Plan
+ Two SIOP Strategies
Grade & Content Area
Example: 3rd Grade Science – Life Cycles
Time Pressure
+ BICS → CALP
Emergent bilinguals face testing deadlines long before they’ve had the 5–7 years needed to fully develop academic language (CALP).
Example Activity
Connection to Challenge
Limited Student Talk
This plan addresses the “Limited Opportunities for Academic Talk” challenge by giving EBs structured chances to practice academic language.
Teachers often talk more than students, leaving EBs with fewer chances to practice academic language in real conversations.
Write a great headline
90%
100%
of visual information is better assimilated.
80%
of what we do and see,we remember.
WOW Effect
Use images in your presentation
Social beings
Narrative beings
We are visual beings
We need to interact with each other. We learn collaboratively.
We teach through stories. They entertain us and help maintain our attention.
We are capable of understanding images from millions of years ago, even from other cultures.
Do you have an idea?
With Genially templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience in awe. You can also highlight a phrase or a specific fact that will be etched in your audience's memory and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
Do you have an idea?
With Genially templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience in awe. You can also highlight a phrase or a specific fact that will be etched in your audience's memory and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
Do you have an idea?
With Genially templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience in awe. You can also highlight a phrase or a specific fact that will be etched in your audience's memory and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
Second Language Acquisition & Academic Language Development
Alexis Vazquez
Created on September 16, 2025
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Transcript
Alexis Vazquez
Second Language Acquisition & Academic Language Development
BIC vs. CALP Jim Cummins' Iceberg Theory
Three Pillars of Academic Language
Discourse
Syntax & Grammar
Vocabulary Knowledge
Academic and subject-specific words students need to understand content.
Organizing language in essays, reports and classroom discussions.
Using correct sentence structures, tenses and voice to express ideas.
+ CLICK ME
+ CLICK ME
+ CLICK ME
Challenges Teacher Face with EBs
SIOP-Based Action Plan
+ Two SIOP Strategies
Grade & Content Area Example: 3rd Grade Science – Life Cycles
Time Pressure
+ BICS → CALP
Emergent bilinguals face testing deadlines long before they’ve had the 5–7 years needed to fully develop academic language (CALP).
Example Activity
Connection to Challenge
Limited Student Talk
This plan addresses the “Limited Opportunities for Academic Talk” challenge by giving EBs structured chances to practice academic language.
Teachers often talk more than students, leaving EBs with fewer chances to practice academic language in real conversations.
Write a great headline
90%
100%
of visual information is better assimilated.
80%
of what we do and see,we remember.
WOW Effect
Use images in your presentation
Social beings
Narrative beings
We are visual beings
We need to interact with each other. We learn collaboratively.
We teach through stories. They entertain us and help maintain our attention.
We are capable of understanding images from millions of years ago, even from other cultures.
Do you have an idea?
With Genially templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience in awe. You can also highlight a phrase or a specific fact that will be etched in your audience's memory and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
Do you have an idea?
With Genially templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience in awe. You can also highlight a phrase or a specific fact that will be etched in your audience's memory and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
Do you have an idea?
With Genially templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience in awe. You can also highlight a phrase or a specific fact that will be etched in your audience's memory and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!