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Jun 26, 2021 · Learn from four educators who share their single most effective instructional strategy for teaching English-language learners. They explain how they use Picture Word Inductive Model, sentence frames, language experience approach, and total physical response.
- Opinion Contributor
- Closed captioning isn’t just for the hearing impaired. If you’re showing video content, turning on closed captioning supports ELL students’ comprehension as well as everyone’s literacy skills.
- Voice typing in Google Docs (under the Tools menu) provides students with a voice-to-text option that can help learners who have some oral language but struggle with spelling and writing.
- Offer choices of what students can say if they’re called on and aren’t sure how to respond. This helpful anchor chart, for example, offers students options other than the ubiquitous “I don’t know.”
- Add gestures to reinforce communication. Remember that in order to communicate, we need to ensure that the sounds coming out of our mouth create a mental image or concept in our listener’s mind.
- Cultivate Relationships and Be Culturally Responsive. No surprise here. A successful classroom, our educators agreed, is one in which students feel known, appreciated, and comfortable taking emotional and intellectual risks.
- Teach Language Skills Across the Curriculum. English language learners should not be learning the fundamentals of English in isolation; they should be applying their developing language skills to rich academic content in all subjects.
- Emphasize Productive Language. The educators I interviewed agreed that productive language skills—hard-to-master dimensions of language fluency like speaking and writing—should be front and center from day one, even if students feel hesitant about them.
- Speak Slowly—and Increase Your Wait Time. Easier said than done. Still, many of the teachers I spoke to said this simple change is vital. You can record yourself speaking in class to measure your cadence, and adjust.
- Strategies for ELL Success: A Guide for Educators. Learn how educators can support the success of their English language learners (ELLs). They will be useful for a wide range of audiences, including new and veteran teachers of ELLs, paraprofessionals, tutors, and administrators at the school and district level.
- Lesson Planning for ELLs. When planning a lesson for a class that includes English language learners (ELLs), it may be difficult to know how to help students at different language levels participate fully in the activities.
- Classroom Strategies and Tools. There are a number of ways to support, or scaffold, instruction for ELLs, even if they are at beginning levels of English proficiency.
- The Role of Background Knowledge. One of the most critical components of helping English language learners (ELLs) succeed academically is the role of background knowledge.
- How Can Ell Strategies Help Me as An Educator?
- What About Using ‘Scaffolding’ For English Language Learners?
- 11 Strategies For Teaching English Language Learners
- Academic Support For Teaching English Language Learners
In addition to achieving better learning outcomes for students, embracing best practices and strategies for working with English language learners offers some fundamental, organizational benefits for educators as well. For example, when you have a well-thought-out plan for engaging and teaching your ELLs, you are able to more effectively manage you...
Scaffolding can mean a number of things when it comes to language development. First, it can refer to allowing students to continue limited use of their first language while learning English. Though the point is to train students to become independently proficient readers, writers and speakers of English, allowing native speech can help students fi...
1. Cultivate relationships This one is a “no-brainer” no matter what language you speak. As a teacher, getting to know each student helps you understand who they are, where they come from and, perhaps, gain some insight into what teaching and learning styles are most effective for them. For the students, knowing that your teacher cares enough to ma...
Teachers whose work involves supporting the language development of non-native speakers also have the opportunity to take courses that are focused on skills, techniques and best practices for teaching English language learners. For example, the University of San Diego offers an online course titled “Teaching Strategies for ELLs” that is ideal for K...
Learn about 10 instructional practices for English language learners (ELLs) that research shows to be highly effective. These guidelines emphasize an asset-based approach to teaching ELLs and can be integrated into your regular teaching routines.
Jun 10, 2016 · Learn how to plan, record, review, be active and find interesting things in English to improve your skills. Martin Sketchley, a TeachingEnglish blog award winner, shares his tips and tools for successful language learning.
