Opening the Doors of Communication

How to begin…

Assess the student's English knowledge:

• You should be able to access the results for the language tests that are performed before the student enters the classroom.

• Use the assessments: spelling assessment and WRIs

If the student does not have a good understanding of the English language:

• Are other resources available? Work with the resource teacher or the ESL teacher at your school to correlate schedules and objectives

• Focus on the student's overall improvement

• Vocabulary development is the most important aspect: have the student make a picture dictionary with categories (verb, adjective, noun, etc.) into which they can paste magazine pictures or drawings for reference in class.

• Language Experience can be your best friend when working with an ESL student.

Warning!! Be on the lookout for ESL students who only associate with other ESL students from their own culture. In most cases, this means that they are not practicing their English communication skills!!!

How to communicate with the parents of ESL students…

• In many instances, the ESL students will become the translators for parent-teacher communication

• The ESL student and their family are usually sponsored by an organization (church, foundation, etc.). Translators can be found through agencies or in the community.

Interaction within the classroom…

• Learning goes both ways: while your native speakers are learning to help the ESL student, they are learning and becoming more aware of the English language. This is a great opportunity to pay attention to the quirks and rules of our language.

• Learning opportunities increase as cultural doors are opened: for example, if you're studying a period in US history, be sure to study what was happening in the ESL student's country during that same period.