Support English Language Learners In The Classroom

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Oct 30, 2025, 3:49 AM

support english language learners in 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. 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. In today’s diverse classrooms, it’s important to implement strategies designed to support multilingual learners (MLLs), also referred to as English language learners (ELLs), in the general education classroom.

When considering instructional strategies to use throughout the day, choose the ones that engage students and leverage their strengths. Using a combination of whole-group, small-group, and 1:1 strategies to support MLL students creates a language-rich environment that encourages continued growth and builds an inclusive learning environment. This allows your MLLs to feel supported and confident in the classroom. To support MLLs in groups, it’s best to use simple strategies you can weave into the instructional strategies you’re already using in the classroom. These strategies shouldn’t be seen as “in addition to” or “in place of” what you’re already doing. The whole-group strategies below are simple yet effective ways to further engage all students in language instruction without requiring extensive planning time.

Visual aids, such as photographs, sketches, icons, data, artwork, and videos, are a simple way to make content easier for MLLs to understand. They help MLLs make connections between the English language and their native language. The wide range of ways that visual aids can be used helps ensure that your instruction doesn’t become too predictable or too boring for students while still providing them with engaging ways to learn... While you’re teaching each unit, keep your visuals posted around the room during your instructional unit so students can continue to reference and connect with the visual content. This provides students with a way to continue to reference language and access meaning without having to memorize everything in one single lesson. Example: The word “colony” has different meanings depending on the context, and it might be a challenging word for your MLLs.

If you’re teaching about colonies in social studies, a visual representation of the colonies or what a colony looks like allows your students to connect the word and meaning with their native language and... Get a year of membership🎃PLUS A FREE BONUS MONTH🎃 Teaching English Language Learners (ELLs) can sometimes feel overwhelming, but with the right strategies, you can create a classroom where every student feels seen or supported. Whether you’re new to working with ELLs or looking to refresh your approach, these seven, simple, effective strategies will help you build a more inclusive and engaging learning environment. Visual aids, like anchor charts and labeled classroom items, help ELLs understand and retain information. Quick Win: Try adding simple labels to classroom objects using both words and pictures.

For example, label the door, windows, and supplies with visuals alongside the words in English (and students’ home languages if possible). This small change can make your classroom more language-friendly in minutes! Provide sentence starters that help guide ELLs to write more complete and detailed responses. Last week, I started Macbeth with my 10th-grade English class; usually, the start of this unit brings much excitement and anticipation to my teaching. Students usually love studying Macbeth and grow to appreciate the universality and timelessness of Shakespeare as we read, act, and discuss the text. This year, however, I was filled with worry.

I have six English learners (EL) in my class. Typically, when I teach native Spanish speakers, I feel confident and ready for the challenge because I am bilingual myself. My ELs this year are all Asian, mostly Mandarin speakers and this has given me a glimpse of what it is like for many monolingual teachers who face classrooms filled with ELs and do... I quickly realized that ensuring their success would require thoughtful planning, strategic scaffolding, and intentional support. It feels as though the number of English learners or Dual language learners (DL) in our classrooms increases every year. The variety of languages they speak has also seemed to increase.

In another blog we published, we look at a historical overview of this phenomenon as well as the theoretical foundation for language learning and provide a number of strategies for fostering a learner-centered culture... Establishing a positive culture in your classroom is a crucial first step. And then what? And how on earth was I going to get my Mandarin-speaking 10th graders reading Shakespeare? Supporting ELs starts with the planning process. They may need a head start on the content, additional resources, and longer times to process.

They may struggle to find an inroad to connect to the content. Here are the top tips to consider in the planning process: Consider how you will not only develop vocabulary lists for them but also how they will engage with the vocab rather than just being given a list. English language learners (ELLs) are diverse students who struggle to communicate or learn effectively in English as their second language. They often come from homes where English isn’t the primary language and require special instruction in both English and their academic courses. The achievement gaps between ELLs and their non-ELL peers pose a significant challenge within the educational system.

Bridging these gaps is crucial for ensuring ELLs have equal opportunities to succeed academically. Here are key strategies and responsibilities schools can undertake to support English language learners and narrow these achievement gaps. Supporting ELLs is crucial for schools as they strive to provide an inclusive and enriching educational environment. To achieve success, schools need to embrace the following key responsibilities: Schools should use teaching methods proven to be effective when teaching ELLs. For example, teachers can use fun activities like games and pictures to help ELLs learn new words and concepts or encourage ELLs to practice speaking English by engaging in conversations with classmates.

When creating lesson plans and classroom materials for an English learner, schools should rely on strong pedagogical principles and teaching practices. This means developing a high-quality curriculum that aligns with these principles and helps ELLs learn better. You can and should use what you already know to be effective, research-based reading instruction to English language learners (ELLs). However, ELLs will need additional support in learning how to read, and the strategies here will help you to provide assistance in your everyday teaching, particularly for newcomers (students who have recently arrived in... Note: This article was adapted from excerpts of the ESL/Bilingual Resource Guide for Mainstream Teachers (opens in a new window), published by the Portland, OR Public School District. Teaching reading to English language learners (ELLs) may seem daunting, but the good news is that you don’t have to learn an entirely new method.

You can and should use what you already know to be effective, research-based reading instruction. However, ELLs will need additional support in learning how to read. The strategies below will help you to provide this much-needed assistance in the context of your everyday teaching, particularly for newcomers (students who have recently arrived in the U.S.). For more information, take a look at Colorín Colorado’s section on Teaching Reading (opens in a new window). Look for reading material for English Language Learners (ELLs) that contains some of these characteristics, especially at the beginning of the school year: Quick Answer: Looking for effective strategies to support English Language Learners (ELLs) in the classroom?

We’ve got you covered! In this article, we’ll share 20 research-based strategies that have been proven to increase ELL student achievement. From creating a welcoming classroom environment to incorporating visual aids and providing targeted language support, these strategies will help you create an inclusive and supportive learning environment for your ELL students. Let’s dive in! As educators, it’s crucial to provide effective support for English Language Learners (ELLs) in the classroom. ELL students come from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds, and they require specialized strategies to help them succeed academically and socially.

In this section, we’ll explore research-based practices that have been proven to increase ELL student achievement. ✅ Strategy 1: Establish a Welcoming Atmosphere: Create a warm and inclusive classroom environment where ELL students feel valued and supported. Foster a sense of belonging by displaying multicultural materials, celebrating diversity, and encouraging students to share their cultural backgrounds. ✅ Strategy 2: Set Clear Expectations: Clearly communicate classroom rules, routines, and expectations to ELL students. Use visual cues, gestures, and simplified language to ensure understanding. Provide visual schedules and checklists to help ELL students navigate their daily tasks.

✅ Strategy 3: Use Visual Cues: Incorporate visual aids, such as posters, charts, and labels, to support ELL students’ comprehension. Visual cues can help ELL students understand instructions, vocabulary, and concepts more easily. Imagine this: a classroom where all your learners, regardless of language level, are engaged and actively participating with one another and the content. Supporting English language learners in the classroom is a crucial step in creating an environment that is inclusive of all students. As educators, we strive to meet the diverse needs of all our students, which can often feel overwhelming. With curriculum demands and limited prep time, sometimes it feels impossible.

Support English Language Learners In The Classroom

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