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English Language Learners are of great interest to me. I loved learning Spanish, and i stuck with it all the way through middle school and high school. I took a Spanish course in college, and when I received a 36 on my first exam, i quit. That’s right, I’m a Spanish drop-out. I couldn’t hack it. I had the choice to quit when it got too hard, but these ELL kids in our classrooms, they don’t have the choice. It doesn’t matter that they struggle learning English, they still have to do it to survive. I really feel for ELLs. You come to school with no pre-k experience, you don’t speak the language, and you cant even really make friends because you dont know how to talk to them. And your teacher! Shes telling all the kids what to do in English, they are doing what they are supposed to, and poor little ESOL child just doesn’t get it. He feels left out in all senses of the word. Que triste! (how sad!) I am currently in a Spanish for Educators course, and it has really helped my remembering of the Spanish that i learned oh so long ago. I am ADAMANT about making my classroom comfortable and inviting for all, even if it means trying to communicate in a language that i feel uncomfortable with, because in reality, that’s what these kids are trying to do.
Sarah has the same attitude about ELLs. I will admit, it can be frustrating at times when a child is hitting another child on the head, and you cant remember the words for “PLEASE STOP! YOU ARE GOING TO GIVE HIM A BRUISE!”. But I can say that it is true that just reaching out with the little Spanish you have to your ELLs goes a long way. There is nothing like seeing a child who is frustrated because he doesn’t understand the task, and then saying “muy bien! Tu eres muy intelegente!” (very good! you are so smart!!) and seeing their little face light up like “Holler! I understand Mrs. Washington!” In regards to teaching ELL students, a little bit goes a really long way. Love them, do the best you can with what ya got, and they really will shine.
Oh yeah…and read the research.
1. Focus on potentially problematic sounds that the ELL may encounter.
2. Do the assessments whether their English is limited or not. Really, all kids have limited English. So do adults. It may give you valuable insight.
3. HIGH QUALITY VOCABULARY INSTRUCTION!
4. Use visuals. If someone said to you “fliggenflaggenhiperdonker”…no clue. But if they showed you a picture or acted it out it all becomes crystal clear.
5. Give students time to respond. The ELL student often has to translate and think a little longer about their response. Give them time.
librarian2be said,
April 4, 2009 @ 6:04 pm
I like how you pointed out that just trying to say something to an ELL kid in their native language can mean so much. Just learning how to say, “good job!” can really make those students feel important. I work with an ELL girl on my kidwatching project, and although I don’t remember much from my high school Spanish days, I say short little things to her. Just saying, “como estas hoy?” (how are you today?) made her so happy, and our kidwatching session went really well. I think it’s important for teachers to try to imagine how hard it would be if they were suddenly thrust into a new situation where they didn’t know what was going on, and they couldn’t understand what anyone was saying. Just trying to make a simple connection like asking what their name is in Spanish (”come te llamas?”) can go a long way.
cbh said,
April 5, 2009 @ 7:50 pm
April you crack me up but at the same time you have great insight into how to help ELL students in your classroom. This is my 6th year teaching and I have yet to have a student in my classroom that was ELL however this year my teammate does. However, she knows NO Spanish so couldn’t communicate with N at all. I at least knew how to say muy bien and that was all it took for N and I to establish a good relationship and help her feel more comfortable in Kindergarten.