English Language Learners

Following are 15 small suggestions for working with students who are learning English as a second language.

1. Use print instead of cursive when writing on the board.
2. Allow extra time for ELL students when making a comment
3. Learn how to pronounce the student’s name
4. Dividing students into cooperative learning groups is a great activity for English Language Learners
5. Simplify the language, not the content
6. Avoid slang or idioms
7. Engage students as much as possible
8. Use graphic organizers
9. Model the behavior you expect
10. Speak slowly to students, not loudly
11. Don’t force students to speak in front of classmates, be sensitive not to cause him/her embarrassment.
12. Remember that over-celebrating successes could cause embarrassment.
13. Model correct language instead of correcting language.
14. Most importantly, give a lot of encouragement and praise to all students. By doing this you will create a nurturing environment.
15. Smile and use a supportive tone of voice.