Learn how to support English language learners (ELLs) with six practical strategies to ease their stress and improve their learning experience.

Reocurring nightmares related to school are not uncommon. Whether it’s about having a
 missing assignment, showing up to an unexpected midterm, or having to give a
 presentation on a topic you know nothing about, these dreams can be
 terrifying. Now imagine you’re in one of those dreams but this time nobody in
 your class speaks the same language as you. Language barriers not only add a
 level of complexity but they can heighten anxiety in some situations. So as an
 educator what can you do to ease your students’ stress levels and prevent one
 of these nightmares from becoming a reality?


 Admittedly, assisting English language learners (often referred to as ELLs)
 can be difficult, especially if you aren’t fluent in their native language.
 The good news is that you don’t have to be bilingual to effectively work with
 ELLs. Below are 6 strategies to support the English language learners you work
 with.


 1. Add to Auditory Learning: While it’s
 important that English language learners practice their listening skills using
 “actions and illustrations to reinforce oral statements”¹ has also been shown
 to support their education. Additional support strategies could also include
 physical gestures, dances, math examples, a word wall etc.


 2. Sentence Starters: Another tool for
 educator’s hoping to help their English language learners is to utilize
 sentence starters. Research has shown that asking “for completion, not
 generation”¹ can push them in a positive direction.&nbsp;


 3. Pair Students: Not only do students
 typically enjoy working with their peers but it “provides the English language
 learner with opportunities to grow socially and academically within the
 context of school”.²&nbsp;


 4. Avoid Using Idioms, Expressions, or Phrases: “It’s a piece of cake” might mean that&nbsp;something is simplistic to us
 however, it makes no sense to those who are not familiar with the expression.
 Chances are this idiom is more likely to make someone hungry than it is to
 help them understand something’s simplicity. “The use of idioms is confusing
 to anyone who is not fluent in the language being spoken”.²


 5. Give Students Options: This strategy isn’t
 only for ELLs however it’s one worth mentioning. The Department of Education’s
 website posted a paper that states “think in terms of developing webs, concept
 maps, flow charts, graphs, tables, matrices, and illustrations. Move away from
 the traditional methods of assessments”.³ This shift in thinking can give
 students varying opportunities to show what they’ve learned.&nbsp;


 6. Build Word Associations: Learning theory
 has proven that meaning through association leads to learning. As an educator
 we can “help students relate words between languages”³ for students to build a
 greater bond between their native language and English. An example of this
 would be the word occupied is similar to the Spanish translation for busy,
 ocupada.


 Ultimately, most, if not all, of the above strategies can be used effectively
 with all students, not just English Language Learners. That being said, the
 best way to stave off school nightmares for your students is to continue to
 support them as individuals.&nbsp;

<h3> References:</h3>
<ol>
 <li>
 Gray, T., &amp;amp; Fleischman, S. (n.d.). Successful strategies for English
 language learners.
 <a
 href="https://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~smr2/strategiesforELLstudents.pdf"
 rel="noopener noreferrer"
 target="_blank"
 >https://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~smr2/strategiesforELLstudents.pdf</a
 >
 </li>
 <li>
 Buteau, G., &amp;amp; True, M. (2009). Differentiating Instructional
 Strategies to Support English Language Learners. New England Reading
 Association Journal, 44(2), 23–25.<a
 href="https://webcapp.ccsu.edu/u/faculty/TurnerJ/NERA-V44-N2-2009.pdf"
 rel="noopener noreferrer"
 target="_blank"
 >https://webcapp.ccsu.edu/u/faculty/TurnerJ/NERA-V44-N2-2009.pdf</a
 >
 </li>
 <li>
 Ziegenfuss , R. G., Odhiambo, E., &amp;amp; Keys, C. (2014). How Can We Help
 Students Who Are English Language Learners Succeed?&amp;nbsp; . Current
 Issues in Middle Level Education , 19(1), 58–62.
 <a
 href="https://doi.org/https:/files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1087693.pdf"
 rel="noopener noreferrer"
 target="_blank"
 >https://doi.org/https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1087693.pdf</a
 >
 </li>
</ol>

6 Strategies to Support English Language Learners