How to Provide Better Support for ESL Students

Students who come into an English-speaking school as non-native speakers face a lot of challenges. Not only are they confronted with learning a new language, but they also have to learn other subjects in a language they still don’t fully understand.

Beyond these practical academic challenges, students also often have to contend with cultural integration issues. It can be extremely difficult to navigate the social ups and downs in a school setting with limited communication tools.

As they work on learning the English language, ESL students need support to reach necessary academic benchmarks and to thrive socially in school. Here are some ways educators can help and provide better support for these learners.

Create a Supportive Environment
For ESL students to feel supported and included, they need to feel welcome in the classroom. This means creating an environment of inclusivity and embracing diversity within the culture of the class and the school. Teachers can provide significant support, but the support of other students can make all the difference.

Creating this kind of environment means setting some ground rules when it comes to language, respect for others, and kindness. It also involves building cultural awareness through curriculum, open dialogue, and addressing stereotypes.

Interactive ways to create a supportive environment can be especially helpful. These can include collaboration between students, multicultural projects, and group reflection.

A supportive environment sets the stage for ESL students’ learning and helps them become more successful in a variety of ways. It’s important to be proactive and ensure that ESL students are comfortable with the other students. Bullying, especially cyberbullying, is a major problem that frequently impacts kids who are “different” in some way.

Use a Variety of Teaching Methods
One of the best ways to support ESL students is to provide different kinds of learning opportunities through different ESL teaching methods. Students don’t all have the same learning styles, whether they’re trying to understand math concepts or learning to speak English.

Some effective methods that can help students learn English and communicate more effectively include:

•    Total Physical Response (TPR) – Using movement to solidify language learning. Also can incorporate storytelling elements and provides a physical outlet for students.
•    Group Projects & Collaborative Learning – Helps to strengthen social bonds and provide shared responsibility which can help ESL students feel more confident.
•    Task-Based Language Teaching — Giving students a real-life task to complete to allow them to practice their English skills in a practical, relatable way.
•    Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) — Another method that focuses on real-life applications, CLT uses a range of methods to help students develop students’ communication skills using the English language.

Remember, nothing in education is one-size-fits-all, especially for ESL students. It’s important to have a large toolbox of different methods and approaches to help every student find success.

Integrate Technology for ESL Students
Today, the number of tools available for language learning is staggering. Fortunately, many of these tools are free or inexpensive, making them accessible to educators and the students they help support.

Language apps like Duolingo and Memrise can help students through bite-sized lessons that help them learn vocabulary and sentence structure. Many apps and websites geared toward language learning offer “gamification,” which can prevent learning from feeling like a chore.  

Students can also take advantage of supplemental tools like digital flashcards and podcasts. They can watch videos, take quizzes, and use online dictation tools. There are even platforms that can allow students to talk with English speakers and get more practice for their conversational skills.

Although they have their limitations, these tools can provide an extra layer of support for ESL students. They can also provide opportunities for independent learning, which can be important in a classroom setting that is not focused on ESL for most students.

Communicate with Parents and Other Educators
In supporting ESL students, it’s important to look at the individual student’s needs. It’s also important to collaborate with others in the student’s support system to maximize the benefit of the support they are getting at school.

Whenever possible, meeting with parents regularly to help understand the student’s needs can be a great way to develop goals and make plans. It also provides opportunities to give parents recommendations, such as suggesting speech therapy for their child, when necessary. Collaborating with other educators who also work with the student can also be hugely helpful in developing personalized approaches to learning.

Finally, and most importantly, educators of ESL students should collaborate directly with their students. Taking a collaborative approach helps to build trust and engagement. When kids are involved in their own learning goals, they can thrive, despite any challenges they face.

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