Dual-language books, both fiction and non-fiction, are written in two languages and are often seen with text in both languages on the same page. Other books are written with English text on one page and the corresponding text in another language is found on the opposite page. This format enables readers to confirm understanding and compare language elements  between both languages. The illustrations in the books help convey meaning and cultural knowledge and support storytelling.

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The home language is an ELL’s most valuable resource and it does not hinder their ability to learn English. Using the first language at school and home can improve the student’s English language proficiency, personal and social development as well as academic performance. 

It is important to use and continue to maintain/develop ELLs’ native language because: 

• the knowledge of the language skills in the native language can be applied to learning English (The best...

The more Visual the input becomes, the more likely it is to be recognized and recalled (Medina, 2014). Hear a piece of information and three days later you will remember only 10% of it. Add a picture and you will remember 85% of the information (Medina, 2014). Visuals are processed 60,000 times faster than text. When working with ELLs, it is all about visuals, visuals, visuals as they are one of the fastest ways to communicate information and concepts. Visuals also help to reduce anxiety,...

Comprehensible Input is a term devised by Stephen Krashen (2009). He explained that for students to acquire a new language, they must be exposed to the language in simplified terms that they can understand. According to the British Council website, comprehensible input is language input that can be understood by learners despite them not understanding all the words and structures in it. According to Krashen’s theory of language acquisition, giving learners this kind of input helps them...

Finding Success in the Canadian Classroom - Community Support for ELLs’ Families

Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS) support newcomer families and youth to succeed in school. This program aims to provide a smooth transition for students as they enter into the Canadian school system, while empowering immigrant and refugee families to actively contribute and integrate into their child’s school community. 

All services are free! SWIS workers can help with:

• School...

We learn another language most easily through meaningful participation in activities that we enjoy or are important for our daily lives (Pransky, 2008). The use of games in the classroom can encourage enjoyment and be a valuable approach to facilitate active participation through social interaction for English Language Learners (ELLs). These interactions, with Canadian peers, foster the development of conversational and academic language. Specifically, participating in games and solving...

Words may be our main focus for teachers of  ELLs but when students do not know the English language we need to go deeper. Nonverbal clues and body language are extremely important. Some researchers claim that 60-90% of our communication comes from paralinguistic, that is beyond the words.  Teaching absolute beginners can be a tough task, but with a little know-how and the right attitude, anyone can succeed.

1. Be friendly and welcoming. It is not necessary to speak in a louder...

You have a new ELL student in your classroom ...NOW WHAT!!!!!

These ten strategies are simple, easy to use and best of all good for all students.

VISUALS: Vision TRUMPs all senses. According to Dr. John Medina, author of Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School http://www.brainrules.net/ 

Vision is by far our most dominant sense, taking up half of our brain’s resources. We learn and remember best through pictures, not through written or...

 Teachers need a Wide Range of assessment strategies to discover the true extent of an ELLs learning.

The PURPOSE of assessment is to identify strengths and weaknesses of individual students, adjust instruction to build on students’ strengths and alleviate weaknesses, monitor the effectiveness of instruction, provide feedback to students and parents and make decisions about program planning (LearnAlberta.ca).

INITIAL ASSESSMENT GETTING IT RIGHT!

When English language learners...