Language Objectives Playbook

What is a Language Objective?

A Language Objective is...

Is a predetermined goal or expectation of a language skill students will learn or demonstrate by the end of a lesson.
Targets a specific language domain — reading, writing, listening, or speaking.
Is observable (you can see students doing it) and measurable (students are using predetermined words and phrases).
Helps students develop the academic language functions associated with the content objective.

A Language Objective comes from these ELPS...

How do I write a Language Objective?

Parts of a Language Objective:

A Language Objective...

A targeted ELPS language domain
Academic language based on the content objective
A specific academic language application of the language

Possible Language Objective Structure:

I can (ELPS domain) about (academic content language) by/in/during... (academic language application).

Language Objective One-pager

Language Objective Checklist

Questions to Consider:

Which ELPS domain do students need to focus on today to help the master the content objective? Consider students’ proficiency levels in each domain.
What academic language (vocabulary, sentences, structures) do students need in order to master the content objective?
What language function will students use to demonstrate mastery of the language objective and content objective?

How do I use Language Objectives?

Teachers should...

Align language objectives with the English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS).
Post language objectives daily.
Include a variety of language objectives from all language domains throughout units of study.
Introduce and solicit student interaction with the language objective at the beginning of the lesson.
Revisit the language objective during the lesson.
Review the language objective at the end of the lesson.

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