15 Tips For Supporting English Language Learners

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Oct 29, 2025, 10:26 PM

15 tips for supporting english language learners

Many of us are lucky enough to have a diverse student population in our classrooms these days. Our schools are now filled with a huge variety of cultures, traditions, histories, and languages. While it’s amazing to live in a time when students from such a big variety of cultures are able to learn and grow together, it’s the language piece that we find ourselves puzzling about... It’s extremely difficult when we can barely communicate with our English language learners (ELLs). Even kids from the same country that speak the same language might not be able to understand each other because their dialects are so different. And that means supporting our English language learners is an added challenge for teachers–a big one.

This has been a topic near and dear to my heart for many years, as my schools have primarily had a huge population of English learners. And that population grows bigger and bigger every year. I’m going to share some tips I’ve learned along the way that are specific to literacy. However, I think you’ll quickly find two things to be true: One, these tips transcend literacy; they are applicable to the entire day. And two, many of these tips are helpful to ALL students, not just our English language learners. Our English learners, and I would absolutely say that all of our learners, benefit from a balanced approach to literacy.

These students of course need explicit phonics instruction, and they need exposure to lots of print. They need ample opportunity for writing, and they also need tremendous support with vocabulary and comprehension. They’re going to need a good mix of whole group, small group, and 1:1 instruction, and they’ll benefit tremendously from a gradual release of responsibility model, with feedback all along the way. This is what balanced literacy is (which I say more about here). In their very helpful book Reading and Writing with English Learners, authors Valentina Gonzalez and Melinda Miller explain why a balanced literacy approach is so imperative for English learners. They say that balanced literacy “combines explicit strategy and skill instruction with meaningful daily reading and writing experiences in order to allow students time to practice orchestrating reading and writing skills.” Something all students...

As a paraprofessional who works with English language learners (ELLs), you have an important role to play in supporting your students! Here are some tips that will help you succeed, compiled from the following veteran educators: Getting to know your students is an important first step towards helping them to succeed in the classroom. Start by learning your students’ names and how to pronounce them correctly. (Many ELLs will not correct a teacher who mispronounces their name.) In addition, use positive body language, remember to smile, and get to know your students’ strengths and interests. Small steps can go a long way in making students comfortable and open to working with you.

Build trust by letting students know that their cultures and languages are welcome in the classroom. You can do this by finding out where your students are from and what language(s) they speak at home, asking them to teach you a greeting in their language, and inviting them to share... Having information about your students’ language background and proficiency can help you make more informed choices about instruction. Start by finding out how much schooling your students have had and how strong their literacy skills are in their heritage languages. In addition, look for information on students’ English language proficiency levels in the following areas: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. You should be able to find this information from the classroom or ELL teacher.

Keep in mind that students may be stronger in one skill than another and that it is common for new students, particularly at the beginning level, to experience what experts call a silent period. Learn how paraprofessionals can support English language learners in the classroom and beyond in these tips from veteran ELL educators. As a paraprofessional who works with English language learners (ELLs), you have an important role to play in supporting your students! Here are some tips that will help you succeed, compiled from the following veteran educators: See more tips on how teachers can collaborate with paraprofessionals on behalf of ELLs. Getting to know your students is an important first step towards helping them to succeed in the classroom.

English Language Learner (ELL) students do not necessarily learn differently than other students. However, they can have specific educational needs. The term, ELL, refers to a student who does not speak English as a first language. They typically come from non-English-speaking homes and may need modified instruction and additional support in English and other subject areas at school. Various resources and strategies can be utilized to provide a positive learning experience for ELL students. While many of these English language learners strategies below are helpful for all students, they can be particularly effective when teaching students that have a native language other than English.

<img fetchpriority="high" fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" data-pin-url="https://educationtothecore.com/15-english-language-learners-strategies/?tp_image_id=94843" class="alignnone wp-image-94843" src="https://enhtne6i59t.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BLOG-PIN-15-Strategies-for-Supporting-English-Language-Learners-220x330.png?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1" alt="" width="304" height="456" data-pin-title="15 Strategies for English Language Learners" data-pin-description="English Language Learner (ELL) students do not necessarily learn differently than other students. However, they can have specific educational needs. The term, ELL, refers to a student who does not speak English as a first language. While many of these strategies for English Language Learners below are helpful for all students, they can be particularly effective when teaching students that have a native language other than English." srcset="https://enhtne6i59t.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BLOG-PIN-15-Strategies-for-Supporting-English-Language-Learners-220x330.png?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1 220w, https://enhtne6i59t.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BLOG-PIN-15-Strategies-for-Supporting-English-Language-Learners-385x578.png?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1... It’s important that ELL students feel welcome when they come into the classroom. Learning a language can be intimidating.

Knowing they are learning in a safe and welcoming space can make a big difference. While they are still learning to speak and read English, relationships can be built through: Using a daily check-in activity is a great way to start building trusting relationships with your ELL students. I recommend having them draw pictures of how they are feeling that day, or give a thumbs up or down on “yes/no” questions. 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.

Keep in mind that students may be stronger in one skill than another and that it is common for new students, particularly at the beginning level, to experience what experts call a silent period. Having worked in Title 1 schools for almost a decade, I had the privilege of being surrounded by language learners in all my classrooms. It proved to be a humbling, eye-opening, and fascinating experience in many different ways. Because state laws required my classrooms to be conducted only in English, I prioritized creating spaces where students of color and from varied cultural backgrounds could share the best of their communities through experiential... In challenging political and educational climates, educators hold the power to create classrooms which allow students to shine in ways that are true to themselves, their families, and their communities and to support them... Students are the greatest assets to diverse learning environments, and they bring many experiences, cultural backgrounds, and languages to their classrooms.

While it is up to the educator to provide space for these students to bloom and grow, one of the greatest and most common challenges in facilitating these spaces is in supporting English language... Providing these students with the tools and resources they need can be daunting, especially when working to personalize learning and differentiate in other ways. While a bilingual classroom is preferable for language learners of all kinds, this blog offers support for teachers delivering instruction in English in classrooms with ELLs. Have you ever learned a new language in an immersive environment? If not, it might sound like an impossible task that only the most daring person would try. If you have, you know the challenges in this kind of learning - the intimidation to engage with native speakers, fear of making a mistake in what you are saying or writing, and fear...

These mentalities are typical for adults when learning languages, but kids generally have a more resilient and brave approach. In my classroom experience, I have come to appreciate that English language learners are masters of learning, taking risks, and maximizing coping strategies. Some ELLs are also shy and fearful of engaging for various reasons. Both those willing to engage and those who are more hesitant can grow their language skills exponentially with the right tools and in a supportive environment. As an adult, I learned to speak Thai, and because foreigners don’t usually learn the language while they are in Thailand, I was an anomaly in most Thai social circles. I could formally introduce myself, tell jokes, and engage in casual conversation.

I became an expert at politely ending a conversation when it reached beyond my comprehension. I would usually leave conversations having impressed Thai people by effectively covering up my language deficits. I used my Thai language toolbox regularly and became fluent with it, but this was only a small fraction of the language that a native speaker uses. Our students can do the same on a regular basis. Sometimes this leads educators to assume students are fluent and comfortable speaking, reading, writing, and listening, when in reality, English language learners are using the tools they have repeatedly and are not supported in... Students who engage in content using their non-native language demonstrate their brains are capable of highly complex processes, and as their teachers, it is our job to support them in reducing that cognitive load...

15 Tips For Supporting English Language Learners

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