Some Helpful Strategies

when you have a new English Language Learner

in your class

ü Assign a “buddy” to help the student become familiar with the school and learn procedures and directions.

ü Label important things in the room.

ü Talk in a normal (not loud or slow) voice and use normal but simple vocabulary and expressions. Avoid idioms at first.

ü Model what you are trying to communicate through body language and gestures.

ü Use lots of pictures in your teaching and write words on the board.

ü Let student help with activities that don’t require much language (e.g. collecting and distributing papers, erasing board).

ü Let student draw and label pictures for vocabulary learning.

ü Get some elementary easy-reading books with lots of pictures. Have student copy words from the books, preferably in thematic groups.

ü Have books on tape for student to listen to during reading time.

ü Let student read books in native language.

ü Let student be quiet; the “silent period” usually lasts for the first month.

ü Modify as much of the lesson as possible (e.g. give five simple spelling words rather than the class spelling list).

ü Learn something about the student’s native culture and a greeting in his/her native language. And have the student teach the class some native language words so he/she can feel like the “expert” for a change.

ü Smile and be patient! Remember that you probably sound like Charlie Brown’s teacher to him/her!

And check out some of these websites for further suggestions: