Conclusions: The results were consistent with the hypotheses
outlined in Flege’s (1995) speech learning model in that the
phonological skills of ELLs increased over time and as a
function of age of arrival and time. Thus, speech-language
pathologists (SLPs) also should expect phonological skills in
ELLs to increase over time, as is the case in monolingual
children. SLPs can use the longitudinal and connected-speech
results of this study to interpret their assessments of the
phonological skills of ELLs.