Working with Second Language Learners

Working with Second Language Learners

Answers to Teachers’ Top Ten QuestionsBy Stephen Cary

Answers to Teachers’ Top Ten QuestionsBy Stephen Cary

How do I assess a student’s English???How do I assess a

student’s English???Authentic, performance based

assessmentMultiple-sourceAssessment should be ongoingLimitations of formal language

testingUse observation, chats, and

anecdotal records

Authentic, performance based assessment

Multiple-sourceAssessment should be ongoingLimitations of formal language

testingUse observation, chats, and

anecdotal records

How do I find useful information on a student’s

cultural background?

How do I find useful information on a student’s

cultural background? Multiple sourcesStudent as a resourceIdentify possible cultural conflictsKnow the first and second

language differencesAvoid over generalization

Multiple sourcesStudent as a resourceIdentify possible cultural conflictsKnow the first and second

language differencesAvoid over generalization

How do I make my spoken language more

understandable?

How do I make my spoken language more

understandable? Objects, video, pictures, and

movementSummaries and paraphrasingKey vocabulary and “power words”Build background knowledgeInclude first language support

when you can

Objects, video, pictures, and movement

Summaries and paraphrasingKey vocabulary and “power words”Build background knowledgeInclude first language support

when you can

How do I get my reluctant speakers to speak?

How do I get my reluctant speakers to speak?

Increase talk time and opportunities for meaningful talk

Reduce teacher talkIncorporate students’ personal

interestsEmotionally safe ground for risk takingEncourage English while honoring first

language

Increase talk time and opportunities for meaningful talk

Reduce teacher talkIncorporate students’ personal

interestsEmotionally safe ground for risk takingEncourage English while honoring first

language

How do I make a difficult textbook more readable?How do I make a difficult textbook more readable?

Many comprehension strategiesText tours, graphic organizers, and

main ideaThink aloudsMany interactions with the textText have meaningful with a

personal connection

Many comprehension strategiesText tours, graphic organizers, and

main ideaThink aloudsMany interactions with the textText have meaningful with a

personal connection

How do I help students improve their English

writing?

How do I help students improve their English

writing? Write for real world purposesWriting content based on student

interestsCompliance writing complicationsProcess over productMany supports, group writing,

graphic organizers, “skeletons”

Write for real world purposesWriting content based on student

interestsCompliance writing complicationsProcess over productMany supports, group writing,

graphic organizers, “skeletons”

How do I teach grade level content to English

Beginners?

How do I teach grade level content to English

Beginners?Rich engaging contentReal artifactsCollaborative work

Rich engaging contentReal artifactsCollaborative work

How do I help students build learning strategies?How do I help students

build learning strategies? Integrate learning strategies

across the curriculumReading comprehensionLearning strategies immediately

applicable

Integrate learning strategies across the curriculum

Reading comprehensionLearning strategies immediately

applicable

How do I support a student’s first language when I don’t speak the

language?

How do I support a student’s first language when I don’t speak the

language? A classroom that values people of

all culturesEncourages parents to develop

and maintain primary languageOffer primary language supportLearn a second language yourself

with students

A classroom that values people of all cultures

Encourages parents to develop and maintain primary language

Offer primary language supportLearn a second language yourself

with students

How do I minimize communication conflicts

ina multilingual classroom?

How do I minimize communication conflicts

ina multilingual classroom?

Community that values and celebrates diversity

Find common ground and exploit itEmphasize “doing” over “telling”

Community that values and celebrates diversity

Find common ground and exploit itEmphasize “doing” over “telling”

SDAIESDAIE

Specially Designed Academic Instruction in English

Supported English acquisition developed by Stephen Krashen and James Cummins

Specially Designed Academic Instruction in English

Supported English acquisition developed by Stephen Krashen and James Cummins