See the Top Ten Tips for Working With ESL/ELL Students

Having students read literature

Teaching a lesson that is dependent on prior knowledge

Requiring students to do research

Having students use dictionaries

Using movies in class

Having the students do free writing or journaling

Reviewing

Asking students if they have questions

Oral recitations

Determining student progress by monitoring their in-class responses

Introducing new vocabulary or terms as you show diagrams or examples in a traditional “lecture” or teacher-centered format

Providing a copy of your teaching notes, especially the terms, in advance.

• If you prepare materials on the computer, expand your notes to leave space for them to add their own notes. You can delete information that is strictly for your teaching use, such as materials lists, question prompts, etc. 
• The same materials would possibly help your Learning Support students, if you have any.
• Be SURE to do a SAVE AS and rename the file as "Adapted Student notes for..." or you will be very angry with yourself! Keep the file for future years.

Giving weekly quizzes to check for understanding of new terms

Showing the student how to make vocabulary flash cards and for himself/herself. Younger students may need to have these prepared for them. Help them prep for test/quiz formats.

• Try an online Flash Card Maker to make flash cards easily. The site will save your flash cards for you to re-use next year.
• Flash Card Machine will create ONLINE flash cards sets and has many already made and shared by other teachers.
• Give your students practice tests before the real ones, so they can get used to the quiz/test format.

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Having students read literature

Letting them hear it being read.

• They can use Repeat After Us to hear many stories, poems, nursery rhymes, plays and more.

Using ESL support materials when reading original literature to avoid having to recreate the wheel.

• If you use Awesome Stories , each feature article is divided into “Story Chapter Links” and highlighted vocabulary clicks to photographs and articles with more information about the word. Topics offered include history, culture, literature, disasters, and media.

Using stories and movies or stories and TV together:

• PBS Kids Stories offers online stories, additional activities, related books, songs, and games that add to PBS’ Between the Lions series.

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Asking students to do seatwork in class

Giving limited English speakers more time to complete assignments.

Bookmarking online picture dictionaries on classroom computers for them to use:

• Enchanted Learning Dictionary
• Elfnet's Common Vocabulary

Providing online dictionaries that use differing approaches to assisting students with vocabulary, parts of speech, pronunciation, etc.:

• Heinle’s Newbury House Dictionary of American English
• One Look Reverse Dictionary
• Object Graph Dictionary
• Translating Dictionary

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Teaching a lesson that is dependent on prior knowledge

Breaking materials down into very small steps. You will know that you have reached the correct level of breakdown when you begin to see comprehension.

Being patient and NEVER ASSUMING ESL STUDENTS KNOW SOMETHING!

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Presenting a lesson with cultural components (i.e. holidays, elections, vacation spots, humor, etc.)

Examining your lesson carefully to determine what cultural facts will have to be taught to people who haven’t grown up in the US; this may include history, vocabulary, slang, sports jargon etc.

Providing extra information and review sheets for international students.

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Requiring students to do research and paraphrasing original materials, making attributions of sources

Explaining the concept of plagiarism clearly and with examples. Copying is sometimes viewed as quoting the words of knowledgeable people in other cultures and is not considered wrong.
See Avoiding Plagiarism

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Having students use dictionaries or thesauri

Encouraging students to use English-English dictionaries in class, but mention they may use foreign language dictionaries at home and while preparing homework assignments.

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Teaching a lesson in current events

Making use of special newspapers and radio broadcasts whose simplified language and support materials are appropriate for ESL students:

• World News in Special English
• Current Events Lesson Plans
• The Key: A Newspaper for New Readers
• Learning Resources

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Using movies in class

Using special ESL sources that offer vocabulary support and review activities for special movie viewers:
The English Learner Movie Guides

Using movies and/or audio versions of written materials allows ESL students another way to get at meaning. One possibility is using complete movie scripts.

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Giving students one idiomatic or slang expression to learn per day

Using online resources that explain idiomatic language in terms ESL students can understand:

• Many Things.org Daily
• English Daily Idiom

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Having the students do free writing or journaling

Reading ESL students' journals and responding to their content without correcting grammar errors.  Students will rapidly improve their quantity of writing and eventually self-correct their grammar. Sticky notes are an easy way to leave a quick comment.

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Playing games and using puzzles to reinforce curriculum content

Utilizing some of the many ESL resources that include games and other fun approaches to learning. Games can help with content review, vocabulary development, spelling, etc.

• Teach Children ESL: Games
• S2SUtopia Projects (games for many areas of the curriculum)
• Word Based Games for ESL Students
• Using Games in the ESL Classroom

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Reviewing previously taught material in an interesting manner

Using joking frequently as a way to say the same thing in a slightly different way. Students want to learn what is funny in the U.S. Humor varies from culture to culture and your ESL students want to know why certain things are funny so they can join in with the fun.
See Using Humour in the Second Language Classroom and Using Humor in the ESL Classroom for techniques and a full explanation.

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Recalling information

Using music to help recall information in any subject. Songs are easy for ESL students to remember, and they promote speaking with a more flawless accent.

• National Children's Folksong Registry  
• Singing Science
• Using Songs in the ESL Classroom

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Asking students if they have questions about the material you’ve presented in class or in readings

Helping ESL students use correct question format by restating their questions to you in correct grammatical form. Have them try English Question Words.

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Determining student progress by monitoring their in-class responses

Using frequent positive reinforcement even for very small improvements and very brief comments. 

• Students may not be used to such attention from the classroom teacher and will take a while to respond positively to it.
• Limited English speakers may need to be prodded to answer orally and may respond much more slowly than eager American students.

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Having students do oral recitations or put on a play

Helping your limited English speakers improve their pronunciation so they will be more understandable:
Sounds of English: English Pronunciation

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Giving spelling tests

Using spelling words in sentences or stories so that limited English speaking students will have a context for the words; more meaning will lead to more retention.

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