Top 10 Tips for Teaching ELL Students in Mainstream Classrooms

As classrooms across the globe become increasingly diverse, teachers and educational institution’s are faced with the rewarding challenge of teaching English Language Learner (ELL) students within mainstream settings.

These students, who come with their own unique cultural backgrounds and language learning needs, enrich our classrooms and schools.

However, effectively supporting their academic and language development requires thoughtful adaptation of teaching strategies.

This article is designed to share practical, impactful tips for educators looking to enhance their support for ELL students in mainstream classrooms.

Together, we can ensure that our teaching practices not only acknowledge but also celebrate and leverage the diversity of our student populations.

Tips for Teaching ELL Students in Mainstream Classrooms

1. Embrace Cultural Diversity

First and foremost, it’s crucial to create a classroom environment that respects and celebrates the cultural diversity of all students.

This means going beyond the occasional cultural holiday celebration to integrate multicultural perspectives into daily lesson plans and discussions.

For ELL students, seeing their culture represented in the curriculum can be validating and empowering. It also provides a rich learning opportunity for all students to develop a global perspective.

Incorporating books, stories, and examples from various cultures, and inviting students to share their own cultural experiences, are simple ways to weave this principle into your teaching.

2. Use Visual Aids and Hands-on Learning

Visual aids, such as charts, graphs, and pictures, can significantly enhance comprehension for students who are still mastering English.

These tools help bridge the language gap by providing context and visual cues to the material being taught. Similarly, hands-on learning activities engage students in a more interactive, tangible way.

Experiments, manipulatives, and physical models can make abstract concepts more concrete and understandable for ELL students.

By integrating these strategies, you’re not only supporting language development but also catering to varied learning styles within your classroom.

3. Leverage Technology and Multimedia Tools

Technology offers a wealth of resources for making learning more accessible and engaging for ELL students.

Educational apps and online platforms provide interactive experiences that can tailor to individual learning needs and pace. Multimedia tools, such as videos and interactive games, are particularly effective in presenting language in context, making it easier for ELL students to grasp new vocabulary and concepts.

Furthermore, many of these tools offer opportunities for practice and feedback in a low-stress, engaging environment, which can be invaluable for building language proficiency.

4. Simplify Language Without Lowering Standards

It’s essential to communicate in a way that is accessible to ELL students without compromising the academic rigor of your content. Use clear, straightforward language and short sentences.

Avoid idioms and colloquial expressions that can be confusing to learners new to the English language.

However, this simplification does not mean lowering the complexity of the ideas or concepts being taught. Instead, it’s about making the language barrier less of an obstacle to understanding those complex ideas.

Provide glossaries for subject-specific vocabulary and use consistent language cues across lessons to help ELL students build their academic vocabulary over time.

5. Incorporate Language Objectives in Lesson Plans

In addition to your standard curriculum objectives, include specific language objectives for your ELL students.

This dual focus ensures that you’re not only teaching content but also intentionally supporting language development.

For example, a science lesson on ecosystems could have a language objective like “Students will be able to describe the roles of producers, consumers, and decomposers using complete sentences.

By setting these objectives, you make language learning an explicit part of your teaching strategy, allowing for targeted support and assessment of ELL students’ language acquisition alongside their mastery of content.

6. Encourage Collaborative Learning

Collaborative learning experiences, such as group projects and peer tutoring, can be incredibly beneficial for ELL students.

Working in groups with their peers allows them to practice English in a natural, low-pressure environment. It also helps them build social connections and learn from the diverse perspectives within the classroom.

Design your group activities to ensure that ELL students are actively participating and that tasks are structured to require input from all group members.

This not only aids in language development but also fosters a sense of belonging and community among your students.

7. Differentiate Instruction

Differentiation is a cornerstone of effective teaching for a diverse classroom. Recognize that ELL students come with varying levels of English proficiency and diverse educational backgrounds.

Tailor your instruction to meet these varied needs by offering different pathways for students to explore content and demonstrate their understanding.

This might mean providing reading materials at different levels, offering choices in how to complete assignments, or using technology to customize learning activities.

Differentiation ensures that all students, not just ELLs, can access the curriculum at their own level and pace, promoting a more inclusive and equitable learning environment.

8. Provide Scaffolding

Scaffolding is about giving students the support they need when they need it and gradually removing that support as they become more independent.

For ELL students, scaffolding could include pre-teaching vocabulary before a lesson, using graphic organizers to plan writing assignments, or modeling how to solve a problem step by step.

The key is to anticipate where students might struggle and to provide structured support that helps them succeed.

As their language proficiency and confidence grow, gradually reduce the scaffolds, encouraging autonomy and resilience in their learning journey.

9. Foster a Supportive Learning Environment

Creating a classroom culture where mistakes are part of the learning process is vital, especially for ELL students who might feel self-conscious about their English proficiency.

Encourage a growth mindset, praising effort, perseverance, and improvement rather than just accuracy or correctness.

Make your classroom a safe space for students to try, err, and learn from their experiences.

Celebrate linguistic and cultural diversity as assets rather than barriers to learning, and encourage all students to share their thoughts and ideas, regardless of their English proficiency level.

10. Engage with Families and Communities

Building strong connections with the families of ELL students is essential for creating a supportive educational ecosystem.

Communication with families should be accessible and inclusive, utilizing translation services when necessary to ensure clarity and understanding. Invite families to participate in school events and provide opportunities for them to share their cultural heritage with the class.

This not only enriches the classroom experience for all students but also validates and honors the identities of ELL students. Moreover, collaborate with community organizations that support ELL families.

They can offer valuable resources, such as language classes and cultural orientation programs, which complement the educational goals within the classroom.

Conclusion

Teaching ELL students in mainstream classrooms requires a thoughtful, responsive approach that acknowledges the diversity of learners’ backgrounds and needs.

• By embracing cultural diversity,
• employing visual and hands-on learning strategies,
• leveraging technology,
• simplifying language without lowering academic standards,
• incorporating language objectives,
• encouraging collaborative learning,
• differentiating instruction, providing scaffolding,
• fostering a supportive learning environment, and
• engaging with families and communities,

educators can significantly enhance the educational experience of ELL students.

These 10 tips are not exhaustive but serve as a foundation for creating an inclusive, equitable classroom where every student has the opportunity to succeed.

Remember, the goal is to not only teach English but to facilitate a comprehensive educational experience that respects and celebrates diversity, promotes academic achievement, and fosters social and emotional growth.

Further resources

• https://www.edutopia.org/article/10-strategies-support-english-language-learners-across-all-subjects
• https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/supporting-esl-students-mainstream-classroom
• https://pce.sandiego.edu/11-essential-strategies-for-teaching-english-language-learners-for-any-teacher
• https://readinghorizons.website/blog/post/2012/01/24/supporting-esl-students-10-tips-for-mainstream-teachers