Learning Strategies for ELL Students | Origin: ED202
This is a general discussion forum for the following learning topic:
Teaching English Language Learners --> Learning Strategies for ELL Students
Post what you've learned about this topic and how you intend to apply it. Feel free to post questions and comments too.
In this module I reflected on the importance of checks for understanding and the need for more frequent and short checks for understanding. I think these are so important so that students do not get behind and I can assess learning more frequently. Ensuring that the questions are high quality and thought provoking is important.
Having ELL students in your class it is easy to put them together so they can communicate. In actuality it is better to challenge them and yourself by placing them in groups where they must adapt to understand.
In the posted video, I found it encouraging to have brief quarterly check ins with students. I specifically like that she asks them "What can I do to help better your learning?". It humanizes us as teachers and allow the students to know we are in their corner and want to make sure they are successful.
Encourage risk taking in a safe environment that provides support when things don't go as planned.
ELL students do bring an additional challenge to the table, but they are capable learners and should get the support they need.
Comment on Ora Robinson's post:
Hi Ora, I also teach nursing and find that having the ability to function at a technical level - that is to respond to a patient in distress - can be challenging for any learner new to the profession but is compounded if that learner also contends with an ELL aspect. I recall one student struggle with comprehension and execution of English speaking skills because English was her 5th language! Now, being multi-lingual is a skill set I do not possess, so I marveled at her abilities; however, patient safety was in question without strong enough English communication skills.
Don’t make the assumption that low English skills means low intelligence levels. A lot of my ELL students are highly intelligent. Provide them with a safe and comfortable environment and challenge them.
Students should have a safe learning environment. Instructors should not treat them like children who are unable to understand the material but instead try to challenge them to use higher level thinking.
There are strategies for supporting learners at all levels of fluency. Key to all is to provide a safe, welcoming environment.
Just because they are not fluent, don't treat them as if they are lesser. It is important to teach students strategies for learning, not just the content itself. We could be showing them how to plan, reflect, and ask deeper questions, while also creating a safe space where they feel comfortable making mistakes.
Students should be made to feel comfortable when taking risk to learn English
I also Agree
I learned that a teacher can positively grow his or her ELL students by providing reading, metacognitive, and social/emotional strategies. I think that one of the biggest take-aways is to make sure that teachers are treating their students as the age they are, and not treating them like babies. Just because they do not comprehend and understand all of the English, does not mean that they are not educated and capable to learn.
ELL students can be highly intelligent, but may not appear so just because English is not their first language, so don't make assumptions about intelligence level and don't simplify instructions, challenge these students and set high standards.
Employing effective teaching strategies to ensure learner success is the name of the game, especially when a student is learning a skill AND a second language.
The acquisition of learning strategies is particularly important for your ELL students, because they’re likely to already have a lot of natural abilities in their own native laguage which they can draw from. The goal will be to have them improve these same abilities in English.
Students should be made to feel comfortable when taking risk to learn English
Do not think of ELL students as children. They still learn at a high level. Make students feel comfortable and encourage them to participate.
Between the cognitive, metacognitive, making sure that the students are comfotable and using respectful strategies to higher order thinking It all comes down to asking the right questions. By doing so the students are drawn into the topics and learning objectives and it gives the instructor insight on whether they are grasping the material.
Having students in your class that are learning english can be challenging for the instructor as well! The idea is to make them comfortable but not do the thinking/work for them, but to provide thought-provoking questions during class that will assist their learning.
