Our focus in the ESL Program is to address the needs of English Language Learners (ELs), whose first language is a language other than English. We strive to ensure that our student population, which includes a rich diversity in cultures from around the Pacific islands and abroad, attain proficiency in English and meet academic and content standards that all students are expected to meet. In the ESL class, the ELs become active learners of meaning and in making connections and transitions among ideas and elements.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

April 2012

"Some Teaching Techniques Teachers Use to Teach the English Language Learners"

by:  Lois T. Gumataotao
ESL Teacher/Coordinator 

  In last month’s article, you read about how the ELs (English Learners ) learn.  This month as promised, you will learn just some of the teaching following techniques, methods, and approaches that have been found to be effective in language teaching.  They are:

Ø      TPR (Total Physical Response): This is a technique that uses a sequence of model commands.  For example, the teacher instructs the students to touch something of a specific color, or play Simon Says, or physically respond to a command.  ELs find TPR relaxing and enjoyable because all of the language introduced is visual and contextual, and they are not forced to speak until they are ready.

Ø      Cooperative Learning:  This involves students working in groups towards common learning objectives.  It includes peer tutoring, whereby group members coach each other; jigsaw methods, in which each member of a group is responsible for a portion of a text; and cooperative projects, written papers, oral presentations, and artwork.

Ø      LEA (Language Experience Approach): This allows students to develop reading and writing skills by drawing upon their current knowledge of English using a given theme with which they are familiar.  Students and teachers work together to create language and compose texts that provide meaningful reading practice. 

Ø      SIOP (Sheltered Instruction observation Protocol) Model:  This model provides concrete examples of the features of sheltered instruction that can expand teachers’ lesson plans.

Ø      Computer-Assisted Language Learning:  Since most ELs are computer literate, the use of technology allows students to work at their own pace, communicate effectively, and learn in the content areas.

No single technique works for all teachers, for all students, or under all circumstances,.  Therefore, teachers are aware to provide a variety of strategies to meet the needs of the ELs in the classroom.

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