English as a Second Language Learner in the class.

How will I assist an English as a Second Language learner in my classroom?

By creating a classroom community based on inclusion, respect, and differentiation for all learners, an effective learning environment can be established for every student. To be able to benefit from their education experiences, verbal language proficiency needs to be the first goal for ESL students. Parent volunteers are invaluable resources to tap into for assistance in individual reading activity to help in language proficiency development of ESL students. One of the tried and true means of learning languages is the use of language tapes. Books on tape and music especially formatted for children are great tools to encourage listening and verbal skills. In this wonderful age of technology, many different educational sites have audio language lessons that are design to teach English to non English speaking students.

Aside from providing proper tools to help ESL students learn all the contents that have to be covered, the other important factor that we as teachers must examine is our own cultural and personal values. Empathy is a must. Teachers need to put themselves in the shoes of the student who, in addition, to having to learn content materials but must learn them in a language they are not proficient in. Teachers should ask themselves, can I be successful in any of the third grade subjects if they are presented to me in another language that I am not well verse in? If the answer is no, then help your students in the ways you would want to be helped to be successful.