Best Ways to Teach English Language Learners
Generate Slides Free

🌍 Best Ways to Teach English Language Learners

Effective Strategies for Language Acquisition

Presented by

Larry Ferlazzo

July 5, 2025

Empowering Educators

Bridging language barriers through innovative and research-based teaching approaches

Made with PageOn

Cultivate Relationships

🤝 Why Relationships Matter

Getting to know each ELL student helps teachers understand who they are and where they come from.[1]

  • Gain insight into effective teaching styles

  • Show respect for cultural differences

  • Create foundation for autonomous learning

📈 Benefits for Teachers

  • More effective lesson planning

  • Better progress monitoring

  • Less time wasted on ineffective strategies[4]

Hello! ¡Hola! Bonjour! 你好! مرحبا! Multilingual Classroom Connection
Made with PageOn

Comprehensible Input

🔍 What is Comprehensible Input?

Language that ELLs can understand even when they don't know all the words[2]. Creates a foundation for natural language acquisition.

Clear Communication & Visual Learning

Key Benefits:

  • Reduces language barriers

  • Builds confidence in learners

  • Creates meaningful learning experiences

Effective Techniques:

  1. Sentence frames with word banks[2]

  2. Visual supports (pictures, diagrams)

  3. Clear speech with simplified vocabulary

Implementation Strategy:

Balance language input (what students hear/read) with output (what they produce) for complete language development[3].

Made with PageOn

Increase Language Output

Why Language Output Matters 🗣️

ELLs learn through both language they encounter (input) and language they produce (output)[3].

  • Deepens understanding of concepts

  • Improves language skills through practice

  • Helps clarify and negotiate meaning

Effective Output Strategies 📝

  1. Collaborative summarizing activities

  2. Pair and group discussions

  3. Think-pair-share exercises

  4. Structured feedback opportunities

Language Activities Hi! Hello! Speaking Writing Collaborating Language Output Activities
Made with PageOn

Academic Language Focus

📚 Why Academic Language Matters

Essential for ELLs to succeed in academic settings beyond basic communication skills[3]

  • Bridges the gap between social and academic language

  • Provides access to content across subjects

  • Builds foundation for long-term academic success

🔍 Effective Implementation Strategies

  1. Introduce new academic vocabulary explicitly

  2. Model proper usage in complete sentences

  3. Connect concepts to students' background knowledge

  4. Use visual supports for complex terms

Language Progression: Everyday to Academic Everyday Language big good show think help use make Academic Language substantial beneficial demonstrate analyze facilitate implement synthesize Increasing Complexity & Precision

📝 Classroom Application

Create vocabulary-rich environments that support academic language acquisition:

  • Word walls with subject-specific terminology

  • Graphic organizers to visualize relationships

  • Sentence frames for academic discussions

Made with PageOn

Leverage Native Language

🌍 The "Preview, View, Review" Strategy

A powerful approach that uses students' native language as a foundation for learning English. This method creates a linguistic bridge between languages.

Students can build on their existing knowledge while acquiring new language skills[4].

Native Language English Language Language Bridge Connecting Learning Pathways

1️⃣ Preview

Introduce topic in student's home language using multilingual resources.

2️⃣ View

Teach the content in English, building on familiar concepts.

3️⃣ Review

Reinforce learning by reviewing in the native language again.

Made with PageOn

Communicative Language Teaching

🗣️ What is CLT?

Communicative Language Teaching emphasizes real-life communication over strict grammar rules, focusing on fluency development.[6]

Could you help me? I prefer this one

Key Features

  • Focuses on practical communication skills

  • Prioritizes fluency over grammatical accuracy

  • Uses authentic materials and situations

Student Activities

  • Making requests and offers

  • Explaining concepts and ideas

  • Expressing feelings and preferences

  • Solving real-world problems

Made with PageOn

Gradual Language Production

🌱 Early Production Stage

  • Ask students to point to pictures and say new words

  • Use yes/no and either/or questions

  • Facilitate pair work for simple discussions

  • Have students write short sentences in graphic organizers

🌿 Speech Emergent Stage

  • Introduce academic vocabulary with visual support

  • Ask questions requiring short answers

  • Use charts and graphs with familiar information

  • Connect to students' background knowledge

🌳 Beginning Fluency Stage

  • Implement "Think, pair, share" activities

  • Ask questions requiring full responses with explanations

  • Request clarification through paraphrasing

  • Encourage inference and justification in answers

Basic Words Single concepts Simple Sentences Subject + Verb Complex Language Full grammar Language Development Progression Complexity

Adapt teaching strategies to match students' language development stage for optimal learning outcomes[10]

Made with PageOn

Language Immersion

🌊 Immersion Benefits

Reinforces learning beyond formal instruction by integrating English into daily life[12]

  • Creates natural language exposure

  • Builds authentic context for vocabulary

  • Develops listening comprehension skills

🎵 Immersion Activities

  • Listening to English music

  • Watching TV shows with subtitles

  • Following English content creators

  • Reading simple English books

Add a note or description
Made with PageOn

References

  1. 11 Essential Strategies for Teaching English Language Learners. https://pce.sandiego.edu/11-essential-strategies-for-teaching-english-language-learners-for-any-teacher/

  2. The Six Most Effective Instructional Strategies for ELLs—According to Teachers. https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-the-six-most-effective-instructional-strategies-for-ells-according-to-teachers/2021/06

  3. Innovative strategies for teaching English language learners. https://www.umassglobal.edu/news-and-events/blog/innovative-strategies-for-english-language-learners

  4. 6 Essential Strategies for Teaching English Language Learners. https://www.edutopia.org/article/6-essential-strategies-teaching-english-language-learners/

  5. What are some effective methods for teaching English as a Second Language. https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-effective-methods-for-teaching-English-as-a-Second-Language-ESL-using-films-or-movies

  6. 5 Popular ESL Teaching Methods Every Teacher Should Know. https://bridge.edu/tefl/blog/esl-teaching-methods/

  7. Supporting English Language Learners: Resources for Educators. https://soeonline.american.edu/blog/english-language-learners-resources/

  8. Effective ESL Teaching Techniques. https://online.se.edu/programs/education/med-curriculum-instruction/esl/effective-esl-teaching-techniques/

  9. Language Acquisition: An Overview. https://www.colorincolorado.org/article/language-acquisition-overview

  10. What Does Research Say is the Best Way to Learn a Language? https://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2023/10/24/best-way-learn-language/

  11. The most effective language learning strategies. https://mangolanguages.com/resources/learn/general/how-to-learn-a-language/your-learning-language-guide/the-most-effective-language-learning-strategies

Made with PageOn