ii Getting
Involved in ESL
1. Directly teach learning strategies
Teachers should demonstrate how to:
· organise information in outline form
· select the main idea and supporting details
· sequence and summarise
Techniques such as marking essential concepts and vocabulary with a highlighter, labelling diagrams, using word banks, and organising information on various types of graphic organisers, maps, graphs, time lines and flow charts, are important skills for second language learners to acquire. Learning strategies empower our students to become active learners rather than passive recipients of information to be memorised.
2. Simplify the language of abstract concepts by retelling content information in easier English.
3. Use simple sentence structure (verb-subject-object) and high frequency words.
4. Avoid the passive tense and compound and/or complex sentences.
5. In questions, avoid negative phrasing, such as "all...but," "except," or "which answer is not?" In this type of questioning students are required to first comprehend all the information, match the correct facts to the question, and finally weed out the one incorrect item.
6. Actively help students build connections and associations in order to access background knowledge or previously taught information. This can be accomplished through teacher-prepared outlines and study guides.
7. Provide students with written as well as aural messages. Outline what you are saying on the chalkboard or have a classmate take notes for second language learners.
8. Always write assignments on the chalkboard. This will ensure that your ESL students know what the homework is.
9. Modify the assignments for newcomers. Choose one question or a few key vocabulary words for them to learn. This technique allows students to participate, but doesn't overwhelm them.
10. Allow more advanced English language learners to tape your content lessons so that they can listen to what you have said as many times as necessary.
11. Provide concrete examples of vocabulary words through the use of visuals, such as flash cards, games, and puzzles.
12. Model "Think-Alouds" to increase student comprehension. "Think-Alouds," are orally or physically demonstrated by the teacher. They show ESL students what strategies they should use to locate information within a text; or to organize study materials.
Adapted from O’Loughlin & Haynes, TESOL Matters (April, 1999).