Supporting English Language Learners

Our interdisciplinary study incorporates strategies for English Language Learners (ELL), so that their learning is meaningful and productive, builds on prior experiential knowledge, assists in their ongoing English Language Development, and provides instruction differentiated by language proficiency benchmarks (Goldenberg, 2013).

The strategies we have incorporated to support our ELL students include the following components adapted from Alberta Education’s Making a Difference (2010) & Goldenberg’s Unlocking the research on English learners (2013).

• Provide ELL students the choice of preferred learning modes, and opportunities to work from their areas of strength.

• Provide ELL students access to Google Translate technology, and encouragement to research ideas in their home language, and then translate content to English.

• Provide opportunities for groupwork and interaction with fluent English speakers

• Consider the ELL student’s level of English proficiency benchmarks (Alberta Education, 2017) and provide differentiated supports as well as modified study goals for students based on individual need. 

• Providing graphic organizers to clarify concepts and organize research information

• Giving additional practice and time for discussion and clarity of key concepts in study

• Providing hands on, interactive learning activities