What is a language sample, and what are the advantages of using a ...

[rl]

What is a language sample, and what are the advantages of using a language sample with a student with a language problem?
 

 
 

 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Describe the challenges involved in determining whether a child from a language-minority background has a communication disorder.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[bookworm410]

Answer to Question 1

A language sample is a record of 50100 utterances of the target student. The utterances recorded must be exactly what the student has saidits easy to add the correct tense or make a singular a plural, since we tend to hear proper usage.
Language sampling can provide a picture of the students current level of communication in the classroom (and in other environments, if samples are collected outside the classroom).
The language sample can provide the teacher with useful information, such as the length of the students average utterance, the students responses to questions, and the nature of the students vocabulary. Teachers are often surprised by the results of an objective sample, since we usually understand so much

Answer to Question 2

Assessing a student from a language-minority background for a communication disorder can be complicated. A bilingual professional must conduct a careful assessment with children from language minority backgrounds in order to determine whether a language problem exists in the childs native language as well as in English. Only when the problem crosses both languages is it considered a language delay or disorder; otherwise, the child may simply be a nonfluent user of English. Professionals must take great care not to identify such children with a disability label. There is considerable evidence that this occurs with some frequency.

[rl]

Thank you!

[bookworm410]

Always glad to help...