According to language acquisition research, what is the average length of time that it takes for secondary school ELs to approach grade-level norms in CALP after initial exposure to the L2?

This option underestimates the time required for secondary school ELs to achieve proficiency in CALP. While some students may develop basic conversational skills in a short period, mastering the academic language necessary for success in a secondary education context generally demands a longer commitment and sustained effort.

Although three to four years may be sufficient for some students to improve their conversational abilities, it is typically not enough for them to attain CALP proficiency. Academic language skills involve deeper contextual understanding and higher-level cognitive processes, which usually take additional time to develop effectively.

While this timeframe might apply to some exceptionally challenging cases, it is generally longer than necessary for most secondary school ELs to reach CALP proficiency. Most research suggests that the majority achieve this level of understanding within five to seven years, making eight to ten years an overly cautious estimate.