So you read about creating a welcoming environment for your beginning level English Language Learners (ELLs) and now you need to go to the next step. Did you remember to:
Write key words on the white board?
Plan lessons with pictures, gestures and realia? If not, it is not too late- find a photo from Google Image, clip art, or Flickr to display while you are teaching.
You could give your ELL a graphic organizer to sort or classify vocabulary.
When modeling and teaching safety vocabulary, don’t be too concerned if you need to offer translation in their native language. It will not hurt the acquisition progress. Go to http://translate.google.com/ or purchase the google translate app for free on your I phone. It will even say the word in the student’s native language.
Did you speak when facing the students, not the board? Sounds odd, but it happens.
Avoid colloquialisms and idioms?
Provide explicit directions for homework? Including writing the homework assignment on the board. The beginning ESOL student can copy if allowed time.
So far, so good.
We are still smiling, right? Trying to? Don’t give up… it will get better!