Effective Strategies for Teaching

English Language Learners

Panther Creek High SchoolNovember 14, 2008

Suzanne Hughes

Steve West

Agenda

Introductions Presentation

Basics of 2nd Language Acquisition Effective Strategies/Techniques Points of Emphasis

Q & A

2nd Language Acquisition

Stages of Language Acquisition

Pre-Production Students produce little or no English.

Early Production Students respond with one or two word phrases.

Speech Emergence Students respond in complete sentences.

Intermediate Fluency Students engage in conversation and produce

connected narrative. Advanced Fluency

Students refine ability to use oral and written English that more nearly approximates the language of native speakers.

Krashen and Terrell, 1983

BICS and CALP

Basic Interpersonal Communicative Skills (BICS)

Student is able to: Make requests Identify Needs Answer general

questions Read and write

basic sentences Mastery in 2-5

Years

BICS AND CALP

Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency

Student is able to: Have an academic,

analytical conversation

Independently acquire factual information

Find relationships, make inferences and draw conclusions

Mastery in 5-7 Years

Who are the ESL students in your classes?

Reaching and Teaching ESL Students

Examine your own biases and prejudices. Fat/skinny, old/young, black/white,

immigrant/citizen Build Trust

Basis for your working relationship with ESL students

Provide “Comprehensible Input” Definition: The use of understandable and

meaningful language. Instruction that is:

Embedded in a meaningful context Modified Collaborative Multimodal

Strategies for Teaching ESL

Students

Effective Strategies for Teaching ESL Students

Instruction and Communication with ESL students must both be “comprehensible.”

Provide Clues to Meaning Drawings Dramatic gestures and changes in voice Photographs Realia Repeat actions by using the same simple

structures and actions.

Effective Strategies for Teaching ESL Students

Provide Clues to Meaning Simplify message, breaking down into smaller,

manageable parts. Don’t insist on eye contact – It is not

acceptable in some cultures.

Effective Strategies for Teaching ESL Students

Modify Your Speech Use a pleasant tone. Talk at a slow to normal pace. Use more pauses between phrases. Use shorter sentences. Avoid using the passive voice and complex

sentences. Use fewer pronouns. Use very few idioms and slang terms. Ask simple yes/no questions. Accept one-word answers.

Effective Strategies for Teaching ESL Students

Modify Your Speech If you have something important to convey,

speak to the student individually rather than in front of the class.

The anxiety of being in the spotlight interferes with comprehension.

Effective Strategies for Teaching ESL Students

Be an Active Listener Smile Talk in a calm, quiet manner. Raising your voice does not help

comprehension. Demonstrate patience through your facial

expressions and body language. Don’t jump in immediately to supply the words

for the student. Give full attention to your newcomer – make

every effort to understand his/her attempts to communicate.

Effective Strategies for Teaching ESL Students

Be an Active Listener Encourage students to act out or draw

pictures to communicate. Resist the urge to over correct. Allow students to use a bilingual dictionary. Maintain a warm, supportive affect. Encourage participatory learning but do not

require it.

Effective Strategies for Teaching ESL Students

Check Comprehension Frequently Be ready to restate and clarify meaning. Don’t ask “Do you understand?”

Many students will nod “yes” when they don’t really understand.

Teach the phrases: “I don’t understand.” “Slowly please” “Please repeat”

Write down messages so students have a visual as well as auditory input.

Make a list of phrases you would like your students to learn and understand.

Collaboration is the Key

“It Takes a Village” Use your

resources: ESL Teachers ESL Students Colleagues Counselors Administration

Points of Emphasis

No Failures Without Proven Modifications

We will let you know what those are through LEP plans.

Please remember that they have to be used throughout the year to be used at EOC time.

We are covered under the Office of Civil Rights for violations.

Please Do Not Judge a Student’s Language Ability

Ask us for assistance. Remember BICS and CALP!

Procedure For Giving Us Tests

Put the test in our mailbox or deliver it yourself. Please include any special instructions (may use book, notes, etc).

We will return it to your box as soon as possible. With many absences, sometimes the turn around time is longer than we would like. Let us know if the time factor is crucial to you.

If you want a student to come to your room during resource (to take or retrieve a test), please send a note with the student.

Trust Us

…to guide you and to do what is ethically and academically right for each student on an individual basis.

AUDIT

Availability for first full year

Helpful Resources - Print

The More-Than-Just-Surviving Handbook: ESL for Every Classroom Teacher Barbara Law and Mary Eckes Portage and Main Press (2000)

Fifty Strategies for Teaching English Language Learners – Second Edition Adrienne Herrrell and Michael Jordan Pearson Education, Inc. (2004)

Helpful Resources - Print

The Handbook for Educators Who Work with Children of Mexican Origin – Third Edition UNC-Chapel Hill School of Education

Research Triangle Schools Partnership

School of EducationUniversity of North Carolina – Chapel HillCB #3500Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3500(919) 966-8000

Helpful Resources - Translation

A Bilingual Dictionary of School Terminology Barbara Thuro Ammie Enterprises (2000)

School Letters in English and Spanish Ammie Enterprises (2000)

Hola! Communicating with Spanish-Speaking Parents Joni Britt Good Apple: A Division of Frank Shaffer

Publications, Inc. (1997)

Helpful Resources - Websites

Teaching Tips: Source of information for both ESL and classroom teachers on language acquisition and teaching techniques. www.teachingtips.com/articles/Pesl1

A Guide to Learning English: Information for mainstream teachers of ESL students. www.everythingesl.net

Educator’s Reference Desk: Provides high quality resources and services to educators. 2000+ lesson plans; 3000 links. www.eduref.org

Learn NC: On-line teaching and learning tools for educators including bilingual and ESL resources. www.learnnc.org

TransACT: Translation library of educational forms and letters. Contains letters specific to Wake County Public Schools. www.mynclb.com

Helpful Resources - Websites

National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition and Language Education Programs: Provides information relating to effective education of linguistically and culturally diverse students in the U.S. www.nclea.gwu.edu

University of Southern California Center for Multilingual and Multicultural Research: Provides a base for those interested in multilingual education, ESL and foreign language instruction. usc.edu/dept/education/CMMR

Dave’s ESL Café: One of the most popular sites for ESL teachers. www.eslcafe.com

Bogglesworld: Activities and materials for teaching ESL students. www.bogglesworld.com

Discovery School Puzzlemaker: Easy to use tools for making crossword puzzles, word searches and other word games. www.puzzlemaker.com

Helpful Resources - Websites

North Carolina Society of Hispanic Professionals: A state-wide non-profit organization whose mission is to promote education among Hispanic youth in North Carolina. www.thenchsp.org

El Pueblo: Non-profit advocacy group committed to strengthening the Latino community in North Carolina.

www.elpueblo.org

Q & A

Contact Information

Steve West swwest@wcpss.net

Suzanne Hughes shughes@wcpss.ne

t

Room 3508