A large number of English learners especially in American countries are confronted with the challenge of meeting the expectations of the country where they are living. Requirements such as state tests and language tests have to be passed in order to keep up with their English-speaking peers and meet the demands of having a good command of English. Hence, it is also a big challenge for educational institutions to help these English language learners adapt to school and daily life. The number of these learners has increased significantly over the past years and continues to grow .
Teaching the English language to foreign students could be overwhelming. Aside from teaching the fundamental skills, uplifting their morale and keeping their motivation alive are also great responsibilities. Nevertheless, success is still possible by applying effective teaching strategies and acknowledging the different learning styles of students.
In her article Strategies for Teaching English Language Learners, Andrea Spillett shares the concept of English Language Development (ELD). It is a system of instructions designed to teach native speakers of other languages. It introduced the technique of total immersion where students are educated in a manner similar to how they learned their native language. One method used is engaging them in natural and regular interactions with English speakers. ELD is conducted using five proficiency levels and four domains. It focuses on four skill areas namely function, form, fluency, and vocabulary .
These strategies are truly beneficial to English language learners, particularly because each of them has different proficiency level, motivational style, and areas of struggle. It is great to know that despite the hindrances, learning the English language and incorporating it into their daily lives are still attainable.
Works Cited
Colombo, Hayleigh. Chalkbeat. 16 July 2015. <http://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/in/2015/07/16/the-basics-of-english-language-learning-schools-struggle-to-adapt/#.V288zzUnfjU>.
Spillett, Andrea. Teachers. 2016. <http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/strategies-teaching-english-language-learners>.
