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LAM

Language Acculturation Meter

Sue Madden Trujillo, MS, Jennifer A. Greene, PhD, and Alicia Carrillo, BS

Purpose:
Determines level of English-language acculturation
Format:
Paper and pencil
Age range:
5 years to 84 years
Qualification level:
A
A
No special qualifications are required, although the range of products eligible for purchase is limited. Close

Available on ChecKIT!

Recently revised! The Language Acculturation Meter form includes a scoring sheet, and the revised white paper features normative data. Click here or the Resources tab above to view or download.

The form is also available in Spanish. Click here or the Resources tab above to view or download.

Assessing individuals who are culturally and linguistically diverse can be complicated. Using an instrument in their native language isn’t always the right answer because bilingual and English language learners have different levels of English language knowledge and fluency. The new Language Acculturation Meter (LAM) provides a framework for testing to help you choose appropriate assessment instruments and interpret test results.

The LAM and white paper are available at NO COST! 

Features and benefits

  • Provides information about the examinee's educational history, including where he or she attended school, in what language, and for how long.
  • Assesses how often examinees use English as their everyday language, including speaking with friends and family, watching TV, and using social media.
  • Measures how well examinees believe they understand English in everyday usage, such as when watching TV, speaking with coworkers, or in the classroom.
  • A new scoring sheet helps you easily calculate raw scale scores for each scale/cluster. 
  • Normative data help you compare your client to others with similar experiences. 

Test structure

The Language Acculturation Meter is designed to be completed in interview format, allowing examiners a way to gather relevant information and open conversation. It includes a section for demographic information and three parts:

  • The Demographic information section provides background information about the examinee's country of origin, age of arrival in the U.S., and number of years exposed to the English language.
  • Part 1: Education History documents the number of years of formal education in Spanish and/or English.
  • Part 2: Everyday Language Usage features 11 statements rated on a sliding scale from "Spanish only" to "English only."
  • Part 3: English Comprehension ascertains how well the examinee understands English in common, everyday scenarios.

Although the Language Acculturation Meter is designed for individuals transitioning from Spanish to English, it may be adapted for other native language speakers who are transitioning to English-language proficiency.