Teaching English Language Learners: Effective Instructional Practices
Challenge
View the movie below and then proceed to the Initial Thoughts section (time: 4:00).
Transcript: Challenge
Narrator: In this simulation, you’ve recently moved with your family to a new place, and you are attending a new elementary school. Pay attention to the lesson and be prepared to write down five things the teacher talked about.
Teacher: Speaking in Portuguese.
Narrator: Now it’s time to write down five things your teacher talked about. Be sure to include at least one of the many safety tips. How many of the five items were you able to list? What made this lesson difficult to understand? The simulation represented an experience that could happen to a student who does not speak the language of the classroom.
Here’s Your Challenge:
What do teachers need to know about students who are learning to speak English?
What are some general instructional practices that can be beneficial to students who are learning to speak English?
What should teachers consider when testing students who are learning to speak English?