Characteristics Of English Language Learners

- Diverse backgrounds.

- Many levels.

- Silent

- Multilingual learners, understanding multiple languages

- Language Form Phonology, sounds of language and combinations.

- Language From Morphology, the system the governors the structure if words and word forms.

- Language Form Syntax, rules that govern the order of words in sentences.

- Language Use Pragmatics refers to the social context of language.

- Vocab

  • Speaking vocabulary, everyday language
  • Receptive language, words that are understood but not used
  • Academic vocabulary, words that are used in school, classrooms, and textbooks
  • Teaching vocabulary, using word categories as students learn to group words and meanings together
  • Teaching vocabulary, multiple word meanings children learn multiple meanings with experience

Instructional Strategies/Accommodations For English Language Learners

- Working with parents of younger students to extend language concepts.

  • Keep parents informed by sending home descriptions of class activities, language concepts, and questions
  • Have the child bring new words learned at home to class
  • Have the students ask their parents questions about new vocabulary learned in class
  • Push parents to describe books read to or with their children

- Working with parents of older students to extend language concepts.

  • Inspire parents to ask questions about their student's assignments
  • Push families to let their children take responsibility for communication
  • Listen to students' needs, help them solve problems

- Teaching strategies

  • Instruction
  • Attention
  • Constructive feedback
  • Rewards

- Developing language & speech

  • Adjust the pace (only if needed)
  • Use modeling and motivation
  • Show new concepts
  • Wait time
  • Teach comprehension, production, and language in purposive contexts

- Language is your intrinsic motivator

- Visual Aids

- Flexible time

- Text-to-speech

Resources For English Language Learners

- ELL Teacher Webpage - This page has tips and videos for new ELL teachers - https://www.colorincolorado.org/videos/advice-new-teachers-ells-tips-ell-experts 

- Materials for ELL - This video clip gives you tips on selecting the right materials for ELL https://study.com/academy/lesson/video/selecting-appropriate-materials-resources-for-english-learners.html 

- Supporting ELL - This webpage gives you insights on how to support ELL - https://soeonline.american.edu/blog/english-language-learners-resources/ 

- ELL Resources For Specific Grade - This page gives you resources and videos by grade level - https://www.colorincolorado.org/ell-basics/ell-resources-grade 

- Multilingual Resources - This page gives your resources for multilingual learners - https://www.nea.org/weta/resources-for-english-language-learners