Every student is not learning something different; they are all learning the same thing, but in different ways.And every student does not need to be taught individually; differentiating instruction is a matter of presenting the same task in different ways and at different levels, so that all students can approach it in their own ways" (Trujo, 2004).You decide to enroll in an evening beginner's Spanish course at your local community college to better communicate with the large Hispanic student population at the school where you teach. Hopefully, you've never experienced this, but it should help you to see what school life can be like for English Language Learners.The second week of class, your instructor hands you a test and says, ''Buena suerte,'' or good luck. It's important that teachers do everything in their power to make sure these students receive equal access to education.In today’s classrooms teachers work with a variety of students with a diverse range of backgrounds and therefore a wide variety of learning needs.Statistics show that Canada's foreign-born population is at its highest level in 70 years and Canada’s visible minority population has tripled since 1981 (Coalition for Equal Access to Education).Content may be modified for students who need additional practice with essential elements before moving on; however, the expectation is that modifications in other areas will ultimately allow all students to master the same key content.

In this common situation, it’s imperative for teachers to choose appropriate modifications and accommodations in order to make the content more accessible to them.

Students who have at least an intermediate level of English proficiency and who are literate in their native language will most benefit from this accommodation.

Students should have familiarity with using the bilingual dictionary for homework and classwork before being provided this accommodation for testing.

Each student comes to school, not only with unique academic needs, but also with unique background experiences, culture, language, personality, interests, and attitudes toward learning.

Effective teachers recognize that all of these factors affect how students learn in the classroom, and they adjust, or differentiate, their instruction to meet students' needs.