Note: This article was originally osted to an earlier version of the site in October 2021.
Last week, my college hosted a webinar titled “Your ESL Students and You” to help staff members understand how to assist their ESL students.
I, of course, knew I had to attend because of my interest in ESL teaching. I don’t work at the college, though I do teach ESL online, and figured this would be a relevant and informative discussion to attend.
It was very informative, indeed.
The first point of discussion was about how students navigate a class that they’re unprepared for. Inadequate preparation could result in students copying and pasting just to get an assignment done if they don’t understand how to do it. Or, they could end up completing it incorrectly, leading to more frustration.
The college, to the frustration of the ESL department, no longer has an official ESL center. If a student needs tutoring, s/he could still receive tutoring from the English tutoring center. This, however, is not quite the same as receiving tutoring from a dedicated ESL center with specifically qualified ESL tutors.
Some students do not want to take ESL classes for varying reasons. Some want to save money, others time by hoping to transfer faster if less courses are taken. Some students lack immersion opportunities; for example, a student may live with a roommate who speaks their native language, making their only chance to practice in the classroom. In order to learn a language effectively, however, a language needs to be practiced in and outside of the classroom.
Professors also have the chance to refer students to the ESL department. Here, students have the chance to take credit as well as non-credit courses.
An interesting assessment method is used by the department: students are shown writing samples that represent five levels of proficiency, and the student must pick which level resembles his/her writing or writing level the most.
If a professor notices a student is starting to fall through the cracks, s/he could do several different things to help. (I consider these tips helpful, even if you’re not an ESL teacher specifically.)
Tip one is to scaffold, or to provide extra support and new information to help students learn in newer ways. A great time to do this would be during office hours, for example.
Other things that are helpful include writing on the whiteboard, speaking slowly, using signposts, or using key details to explain to students what they should be learning in a lesson. An example of a signpost would be “the first difference is”.
Giving students rubrics for grading and language components also gives them a chance to know what your expectations are in a clear way. Having understanding for ESL students is important also, as they may be used to writing in a different way depending on their native language/s or culture.
The panel also offered a “don’t” list of things to not do.
Don’t feel like you have to teach English learners the language points they need to know. This is what the ESL department is for. Don’t assume that they automatically understand everything you say, either. Check in and have students participate in class, instead of letting them sit in the back of the classroom.
Last, but certainly not least, do not just give students a passing grade because you feel sorry for them. This is only going to set them up for failure later on, which is certainly what nobody wants.
If you’re a teacher, I hope some of these tips have helped you, as they’ve definitely helped me.
Keep teaching, keep learning, and keep reading, my dear viewers. How do you teach? Do you have any other ideas you’d like to add? Leave a comment, I can’t wait to see what you write!