Supporting ESL Students in Inclusive Classrooms
Strategies for Making Language Comprehensible For English Learners
Aug 7, 2009 Margaret M. Williams
In many schools the model for supporting English language learners (ELL) is moving away from pull-out programs or separate English as a Second Language (ESL) classes and toward immersing ELLs into the regular education classroom. If ESL students are to learn to speak English, they need to dialogue with native English speakers on a regular basis.
The challenge of integrating ESL students into the regular education classroom lies in giving these students the support they need to succeed. Sometimes that support falls solely to the classroom teacher, who may or may not have training in working with students for whom English is their second language.
David and Yvonne Freeman, in their book English Language Learners: The Essential Guide [Scholastic, 2007] offer a number of practical suggestions for helping make instruction comprehensible for English language learners.
Take Advantage of ELL's First Language for Learning Content
Draw on students’ first languages to preview lessons whenever possible. Tap into available instructional support personnel who are fluent in the languages spoken by ESL students to preview the lesson to be taught in the child’s native language. Students cam draw on prior knowledge to begin building schema about a topic and learn new concepts in their own language.
Give ELLs opportunities to review lessons in their first languages. After teaching the lesson itself in English, follow up with a review in the child’s language when possible. Connect concepts in the child's language to English vocabulary recently learned.
Visual Learning Strategies for Helping ESL Students Understand
Use visuals and hands-on objects the students can handle and manipulate. This may seem obvious to many teachers; however, it is easy to forget the tendency to overtalk a subject. Make lessons concrete with pictures, posters, and hands-on materials. Always move from the concrete to the abstract.
Scaffold content learning through the use of graphic organizers, such as Venn diagrams, webs, and anchor charts. Provide opportunities for students to engage in the implementation, and in some cases the creation, of graphic organizers.
What the Teacher Can Do to Make Oral Language More Comprehensible
Use gestures and body language to help illustrate language. However, be aware that some gestures are not universal, and body language can be misinterpreted. Take time to explicitly teach what is meant by certain gestures, facial expressions and other body language the students will see the teacher and each other use.
Speak clearly and pause often. However, do not slow down speech unnaturally. It is important for teachers to focus on becoming aware of how they speak in terms of speed, clarity, diction, and the running together of words and phrases.
Repeat key phrases and concepts in a variety of ways. Paraphrase often. Ask students to paraphrase or to repeat what they think they are hearing the teacher say.
Write key words and ideas on a whiteboard or chalk board. Many students are visual learners and will re-assess what they think they are hearing if they can see it visually. This applies to native English speakers as well. Writing words and phrases while teaching also serves to naturally slow the language delivery down.
Make frequent comprehension checks. Ask students if they understand or have questions. Invite students to explain what was just discussed in their own words. Conduct regular checks of vocabulary and content concepts.
Broaden the Delivery Model to Help English Language Learners
Use multi-media and technology whenever appropriate. This includes computer programs, PowerPoint presentations, overheads, and charts. Allow students to interact with the media as well. For instance, providing students with lap-size white boards gives them a chance to interact with the lesson via writing and drawing.
Keep oral presentations and reading assignments short. Give students frequent opportunities to interact with each other via pair-and-share sessions or small group collaborative experiences.
Teachers do not have to be trained in teaching English as a second language in order to make their teaching comprehensible to English language learners. Simple techniques such as using visuals, slowing language down, and making frequent comprehension checks can have a positive impact on helping ESL students succeed in inclusive environments.
Read more about how to support ESL students in curricular areas:
- "Scaffolding ESL Students' Reading Comprehension"
- "How to Scaffold ESL Students' Writing"
- "Strategies to Support ESL Students in Math"
Making English Comprehensible to ESL Students
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