How to Grade ESOL Students
It's not fair to grade students who don't yet speak fluent English with the same methods that you would use to grade native English speakers. Assuming that the student is enrolled in some type of special program to teach English to speakers of other languages (ESOL), you should take language ability into consideration when you grade ESOL students. As students become more fluent in English, they can transition to normal grading standards.
Instructions
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Put the student on a pass/fail system to decrease stress. Giving ESOL students a grade can add to their stress. A student could have been a straight-A student in her home country and suddenly be faced with failing grades--simply because she doesn't understand the material. Putting ESOL students on a pass/fail system allows them to reduce stress and helps them acclimate to the new language and culture.
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Grade the student's assignments and tests as you would other students'. You'll still need a system to determine whether the student passes or fails. Do this by giving the student a grade on papers or tests, but assure him that this will not matter when it comes to report card time. Putting the grade in brackets can signify this.
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Give the student a passing or failing grade at the end of the semester. Use the grades that you've collected throughout the semester as a way to give a final pass or fail grade. If the student is failing, be sure that she knows ahead of time so she can work harder to catch up.
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Consider using "sympathetic grading" where appropriate. In some cases, you may want to grade based on knowledge and understanding rather than English and grammar. For example, an ESOL student could take an oral exam rather than write a paper on the topic. This can demonstrate that she understood the material, even though she may not be able to write clearly about it.
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Tips & Warnings
Be sure that the student understands at what point she'll start to be graded at the same standards as other students. This could be after her first semester or first year, or after she's able to demonstrate English proficiency through testing.
