Strategies for Teaching ELL Students

If you're a teacher, you're used to accommodating all sorts of students. You have to account for learning styles, ability levels, home life, and many other factors in teaching children all subjects in school. One of the most difficult, and the fastest growing, specialty populations is that of English Language Learners. These are students that come from other countries and cultures and are expected to jump into the American education program with both feet. These students need a lot of support and a lot of help and as teachers, it's our job to keep them from drowning. Many teachers don't know how to accomplish this. Differentiation can be difficult in a face-paced school environment. There are, however, some pretty easy things that teachers can try in order to help ELL students be successful. Here are some tips.

1. Visuals
As often as you can, use visuals. This can be pictures that you post on an overhead or that you point out in a book. These can also be videos or even clip art that you place on a test or worksheet. People generally have the same general understanding of what things are and how they work, even if we have different words for them. Using visuals as often as possible will help ELL students make connections to the subject-matter.

2. Translated Vocabulary Lists
Every teacher has vocabulary that they teach their students. When you have ELL students, vocabulary is incredibly important for their survival. A good way to help ELL students learn vocabulary is to translate or have provided vocabulary lists for all of the key vocabulary they will work with. This may be extended from the other students, as some of the more basic vocabulary may be needed. Programs like babblefish.com can help you with translation. You need not even translate the entire definition, but may try to translate at least the word itself to give them a frame of reference. Even having a printed vocabulary list with bolded key words in English will help them get a good start. Pictures along with the definitions will help as well. Don't have a large budget for copies? Have them copy the definitions and draw the pictures in a picture/self dictionary. This way, they get the practice of copying words and working with the vocabulary in their own notebook.

3. Study Buddy
Students work well with other students. It is less risky to make mistakes with a partner, than in front of a class or teacher. Having a responsible student act as a buddy is always a good idea. This will help the ELL student to feel comfortable and get more one on one help that you may not be able to provide. This will also give the helper more practice with their own concepts. They will get to look at it in a different way. The best idea is to have a student that speaks the ELL's language, but if not, just a helpful student will do.

4. Objectives
Posting objectives on the board will help the ELL student to monitor whether or not they are on track. Students, particularly ELL students, like to have a map. Helping them know where they should be will help them be more interested and more responsible for their own learning. You could place objectives on the board or have the students copy them as a means of keeping track of their own learning. You could use a checklist as an exit ticket or class ending assessment to help see where the students are. This will help all students, not only ELLs.

5. Have Them Teach You
Students like to feel like experts. A good way to help ELL students to feel more comfortable and more confident is to have them teach you their own language and culture. You could help them learn the word and then have them teach it to you in their native tongue. You could have them bring items to decorate your classroom and highlight their own culture. It'll help them feel accomplished and also help your other students learn about them. Try to not single them out, however. You might want to have other students do other spotlights. It would be a great way to make all of your students feel special.

6. Guided Notes
Note-taking is an essential skill for students to have. ELL students are not exception. All of the writing can be overwhelming, however. A good way around this is to type up your notes and leave out key words for them to fill in. Even doing something as simple as providing a blank outline or graphic organizer will help ELL students organize their thoughts and keep up with the class. This will help them to not concentrate on writing and concentrate on concepts and language instead.

These are just a few ideas for helping ELL students. It's important to have patience and to realize that just because the students do not have the language, it doesn't mean they can not understand concepts. Remember that teaching ELLs is just using best practices and good teaching strategies. By using some of these ideas and a little creativity, you can make your class the best environment possible for English Language Learners.