10 Strategies That Support English Language Learners Across All

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Oct 28, 2025, 4:50 AM

10 strategies that support english language learners across all

Teachers of any subject can use these tips to help English language learners be more engaged and at ease in class. While we bring the mental health needs of our students into laser focus this year, it’s still crucial that we keep the social and emotional world of our English language learners (ELLs) front and... Just like their peers, ELL students come to our classrooms with the burning need to be seen and acknowledged for their unique personalities, life experiences, and talents. But language challenges can obstruct all these amazing facets of their personalities. Additionally, the social pressures of suddenly being in person again and needing to communicate may make them feel anxious, isolated, and embarrassed. Because of the often-obvious communication difficulties, grade-level and subject-area teachers understandably often rely on ESL (English as a Second Language) teachers to step in and help these students.

However, even if you aren’t an ESL teacher, there’s a plethora of strategies you can use to help these incredible students feel comfortable sharing their strengths and unique perspectives on the world. 1. 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. According to a 2017 study, the simple act of using closed captioning improves learning, even for students without learning challenges. 2.

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. By clicking the arrow next to the language, students can even dictate a text in their native language, if need be, and then use Google Translate to translate it. 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. Download the PDF version of this article › (opens in a new window) Having an asset-based perspective, rather than being deficit-focused, is the underlying foundation for effectively teaching English language learners (ELLs).

Educators must hold an inherent belief that all students bring a richness of cultural and linguistic backgrounds and experiences to the learning environment. Teaching ELLs is the responsibility of all teachers. With some adaptations to regular teaching routines, as described in the recommendations below, all teachers are capable of providing high-quality instruction that leads to ELLs achieving rigorous standards. ELLs vary considerably in factors that significantly affect learning. These factors include language and literacy proficiency in students’ native languages and in English. Educators should learn about individual students’ development of first and second languages.

Cultural and experiential factors also influence learning. For example, educators may notice differences between ELLs whose parents are U.S. born and those whose parents are recent immigrants. Family routines and communication practices shape the knowledge and experience that students bring to the classroom. This article provides classroom teachers with ideas for supporting their ELLs' language development. This article is part of our Strategies for ELL Success guide.

If you are a classroom or content-area educator trying to figure out how to teach English language learners (ELLs), you are not alone! You are off to a good start by looking for ways to support your students! There are many things you can do that will make a big difference to ELLs, and they often prove helpful for other students in the class as well. Here are some ideas to help you begin. Look for a few ideas you can try and one or two topics where you would like to learn more information. Note: This article also includes some research-based recommendations offered by Dr.

Diane August in her 2018 American Educator article, Educating English Language Learners: A Review of the Latest Research. Imagine trying to learn a classroom lesson when you don’t understand the language in which it is being presented. Teaching English language learners requires specialized strategies; and at the most basic level, one of those strategies is to “put yourself in their shoes.” More than 5 million children in U.S. schools are classified as English language learners (ELLs), according to the Department of Education. These students face the dual challenge of learning the material while also learning the language, as their teachers face the added challenge of using the right educational strategies to help them succeed.

Some of the most effective English language learner strategies start with common sense and respect for cultural differences. Simply getting to know the students is considered to be an essential part of the process. For educators who teach English language learners, developing a deeper understanding of their unique needs and the best practices for teaching them has many benefits. These include: Here, we will review a range of time-tested English language teaching strategies that benefit students and educators alike. Classrooms in the Middle East are highly diverse, students come from different cultures and not everyone has English as primary language.

Educators must view themselves as language teachers to help English learners understand both content concepts and English simultaneously, all educators need to view themselves as language teachers. Here are 10 tips for supporting ELs in general education classrooms: 1. Know the language of your content English has a number of words. A student may understand one meaning but doesn’t know another meaning. These are called polysemous words.

You should review the vocabulary of your content area often and check it with English Learners just to assure they know the words and possibly multiple meanings associated with those words. 2. Be aware of students needs Your task as an educator doesn’t stop from the walls of the classroom. You need to understand each student’s family background and the current circumstances they’re in. When they have to take on jobs to support their families, you have to consider that homework assignments are not priority. 3.

Know your students’ background You should be more aware of who your students are – background and educational experience. They may be literate or not literate in their native language. Understanding this may provide you with a better understanding of their educational needs and ways to support them. Download these free eBooks for a sampling of fun games for the online English classroom! It’s common for English language learners to struggle. Students may struggle for a variety of reasons – lack of confidence, learning style, and time constraints to name a few.

The good news is that there are ways to help struggling English language learners overcome these challenges. Let’s explore some systems and strategies you can employ in your classroom, whether teaching in person or online, to help struggling English language learners be successful. New to TEFL? Learn about getting qualified with Bridge to teach online or in person around the world, and explore our online TEFL certification courses. Using visual aids and realia, or real-life objects, can significantly enhance learning for struggling English language learners by providing concrete, contextualized references that support comprehension. Visual aids such as pictures, charts, and diagrams help English language learners grasp new vocabulary and concepts by linking abstract ideas to familiar, tangible images.

Using realia in the ESL classroom further reinforces understanding by allowing students to physically interact with props related to the lesson, making learning more engaging and memorable. Using props can help bridge the gap between students’ language abilities and the content, promoting deeper understanding and retention of material. As classrooms across the United States continue to change, it is critical that educators are able to successfully address the unique language and learning needs of English learners (ELs) and provide efficient and high-quality... This brief describes some best practices that educators can use in their classrooms to help ELs acquire the language and literacy skills needed to succeed academically. Direct and Explicit Instruction Focusing on Key Aspects of Literacy All students should receive comprehensive, evidence-based language and literacy instruction as part of their core curriculum.

This is especially critical for ELs. Effective core instruction for ELs should target the key components of literacy, including phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, oral reading fluency, comprehension, and writing. Core classroom teaching should be explicit, systematic, and differentiated for students’ language and learning needs. It is important to provide extensive and varied vocabulary instruction to ELs. Research suggests that you carefully choose a set of academic vocabulary words to teach intensively across several days using a variety of instructional activities (Baker et al., 2014). An academic vocabulary word is one that is used when talking or writing in academic settings but not usually when talking or writing in social settings.

There are four ways that you can carry out this recommendation in your classroom: Choose a brief, engaging piece of informational text that includes academic vocabulary as a platform for intensive academic vocabulary instruction. Find a short, interesting piece of text with the words that you want to focus on. Select a text that is motivating to students and carries content-rich material that will allow you to provide deep instruction and vocabulary. Teaching English language learners (ELLs) can be a challenging task, especially when trying to bridge the language and cultural barriers that they may face With more and more students entering classrooms with limited English... 1 Utilize visual aids to support understanding of concepts and vocabulary.

2 Incorporate hands-on activities that engage ELLs in the learning process. 3 Use real-world examples and experiences to make learning relevant to ELLs. 4 Provide opportunities for peer collaboration and discussion. 5 Encourage ELLs to use their first language to support their learning. 6 Use technology as a tool to support language development. 7 Break down complex concepts into smaller, more manageable parts.

8 Provide regular feedback and praise to motivate ELLs. 9 Use graphic organizers to help ELLs organize their thoughts and ideas. 10 Incorporate culturally relevant materials and resources into lessons. 11 Create a safe and supportive classroom environment where ELLs feel comfortable taking risks. 12 Model proper pronunciation and intonation. 13 Teach vocabulary in context to help ELLs understand and retain new words.

10 Strategies That Support English Language Learners Across All

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