How Parents Can Support English Language Learning

With support from both teachers and parents, children have more chances to use and improve their language. Yes! You can help your child to gain in confidence and feel more motivated by giving them lots of praise and opportunities to practise English. It’s easier for children to learn when they get encouragement at home. You could also all learn some English together. If you are enthusiastic about learning the language, they will be too.

Use our free FAQs, tips and resources! Here’s how to get started: There is a difference between ‘instruction’ and ‘education’. Decades of research have confirmed that parental involvement has a positive correlation to learning outcomes. The number of English language learners (ELLs or ELs) in our schools continues to grow—and along with it, the importance of engaging their families in their education. Some teachers may wonder, how can parents support learning at home for ELLs if they don’t understand English?

While it’s true that parents of ELs have many unique challenges, it’s important to remember that regardless of their language or educational background, all parents play a crucial role in their child’s academic success. Families of ELLs can contribute to their child’s learning in many valuable ways. In this blog, we’ll discuss the challenges that ELL parents face as well as strategies to foster parent engagement. We’ll also cover practical ways to support ELL students learning at home for both teachers and parents. As a researcher who examines families’ language practices and their impact on children’s emerging bilingualism and multilingualism, I work with Latino/a families who often have questions about home language maintenance. Many of these families are recent immigrants.

Recognizing the power of English in the United States, they wonder if they should continue to speak their home languages or focus on English. They also voice concerns about their children’s abilities to develop two (or more) languages at a young age. They worry children might get confused or delayed in their English language development. Contrary to these concerns, research has shown that young children are adept at learning multiple languages. Moreover, maintaining children’s cultural and linguistic heritages leads to stronger identity development and long-term academic success. This, in turn, contributes to rich early learning communities that value families’ funds of knowledge.

It is why NAEYC’s position statement on advancing equity recommends that early childhood educators communicate the value of multilingualism so that “families of emergent bilinguals understand the academic benefits and the significance of supporting... Equity-minded educators understand the power of families’ home languages. By encouraging families to speak to their children in the languages in which they feel most competent and comfortable, they help children make sense of their multicultural heritage. In this article, I offer strategies teachers can use to create learning communities that welcome and support families’ home languages as children develop their English-speaking skills. Families’ language choices depend on multiple factors, including historical and current inequities that have shaped the US educational system. Traditionally, schools advised families to change their language of choice because the focus was on learning English as quickly as possible.

For example, I grew up in a town on the border of Texas and Mexico. My home language was Spanish. When I entered school, my parents were told I was “behind” due to my lack of English skills. They were encouraged to speak only English with me. As a result, I lost most of my Spanish-speaking abilities. Essentially, I was denied the opportunity to become bilingual because educators did not understand how my home language skills could help me learn my second language, English.

Although many educators see the value in home language maintenance, these scenarios still occur across this country. Families also must contend with young children who increase their English skills at the expense of their home language. Research has shown that emergent bilingual and multilingual children often move rapidly toward favoring the language spoken at school before they develop a strong foundation in their home language. This can lead to difficulties in communicating with their families, and it may impact future learning. To offset this tendency, emergent bilingual and multilingual children need to be exposed to all of their languages consistently to support both the maintenance of the home language and the development of English. Educators talk about the strategies they use to build connections with English learners’ families.

Topics: English Learners, Family and Stakeholder Engagement The number of English learners (ELs) in U.S. public schools has slowly increased over the years, according to the most recent data available from the National Center for Education Statistics, from 4.6 million students (9.4 percent) in 2011 to 5.3 million (10.6... And the overwhelming majority (93.1 percent) received English language instruction. But even with a rich diversity of languages spoken in school communities, many school leaders are not prepared to communicate and collaborate with EL families. In this edition of What Works, Principal magazine asked several educators with expertise in engaging English learners how to reach out to family members to collaboratively advance students’ academic performance, social integration, and emotional...

Here are some of their best ideas. What languages are spoken in your school community?Our students represent 157 countries and 186 languages. Happy New Year, everyone. For the first post of 2025, I thought we could look at learning English as a second language from an outsider’s perspective, a parents perspective specifically. Learning English as a second language (ESL) can be both exciting and challenging for children. As a parent, your support plays such an important role in boosting their confidence, supporting them and helping them succeed.

Whether you’re fluent in English or not, there are many ways you can encourage your child on their language-learning journey. Learning English as a second language is a journey, not a sprint, and it’s important to make it a positive experience for your child. Many parents understandably want the best for their children, striving for excellence in their studies. However, it’s worth remembering that perfection isn’t the goal—progress is. Children learning English already have so much on their plates. Many are balancing regular schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and homework alongside their language lessons, which often happen late in the day when their energy levels are low.

In these moments, a supportive environment can make all the difference. If your child struggles, it doesn’t mean they’re failing. Struggles are a natural and valuable part of the learning process. Instead of focusing on what’s not perfect, try to celebrate their efforts, no matter how small. Did they learn a new word today? That’s a win.

Did they try to form a sentence, even if it wasn’t quite right? That’s a step forward. Children need to feel safe to make mistakes because that’s how they grow. If they sense criticism or frustration, they may begin to associate learning English with stress or fear. This can lead to hesitation and a lack of confidence in their abilities. Instead, gentle encouragement can help them feel proud of their progress and motivated to keep going.

For many families in international schools, English is not the language spoken at home. While this multilingualism is a huge advantage, it also means that children learning English as an Additional Language (EAL), or English as a Second Language (ESL), may need extra support. But how can parents help when they might not feel confident in their own English skills? The good news is that supporting language development at home doesn’t mean replacing a child’s first language—it means enriching their English skills in ways that feel natural and engaging. Research shows that vocabulary knowledge is a key predictor of academic success. Isobel Beck, in Bringing Words to Life, highlights the importance of “robust vocabulary instruction,” which means helping children develop deep and flexible word knowledge.

Parents can support this by: Many EAL students have strong reading and writing skills but hesitate when speaking. Parents can create a language-rich home by: International school curricula often require strong literacy skills. Parents can support literacy development by: With these strategies, parents can play a crucial role in helping their child develop confidence and fluency in English, while still valuing their linguistic and cultural heritage.

Supporting EAL learners isn’t about replacing one language with another—it’s about enriching their world with the power of words. Multilingual families can be powerful partners on behalf of their children. Yet what these partnerships look like will be unique to each school setting and community — and may require some thinking outside of the box. This section includes some key tips and recommended resources from our sister site, Colorín Colorado. When you want to connect with the families of English language learners (ELLs), there are lots of strategies you can try. It may take some time to figure out what works, but those ideas will serve you now and in the future.

Here are 10 ideas from our friends at Colorín Colorado to help you get started, as well as key questions to guide you. An important first step is to learn more about your families. You can start by reaching out to staff who work closely with families, such as family liaisons, ESL or bilingual teachers, and paraprofessionals. You can also look for local community organizations that work with the families in your school. These groups often have important insights, resources, and ideas — and they may be able to provide volunteers and skilled interpreters. You can also talk with families directly; however, it is important not to overwhelm families with too many questions at once, especially if they are hesitant to share any personal information.

For examples, many Indigenous families from Latin America are very cautious about sharing their Indigenous languages and cultures in school settings at first. Go slowly; it may take time to build trust. On the other hand, you may find some families who are eager to share information and ready to help. Are you a parent with a child learning English in the US school system? I understand the unique challenges and opportunities that come with supporting English learners. My mission is to empower you with the tools, knowledge, and guidance you need to become a proactive advocate for your child’s academic success and language development.

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