Education Topic: English Language Learning

Ever since I was in middle school, I have been interested in English Language Learning. After being introduced to several different types of music like Korean pop music or French music from the 50s, I have found foreign languages incredibly intriguing. As a prospective teacher, my love for language and building a classroom around it has only grown.

Three young students working in a classroom.

English Language Learning, also known as English as a Second Language (ESL) or English as a Foreign Language (EFL), is the act of teaching English language learners the English language. The term ELL when referring to individuals are students who have limited proficiency in the English Language. These students are incredibly diverse socially and academically. The shift of ESL to ELL stems from the fact that some of these students may not be learning English as their second language; it might be their third or fourth! Because these students come from diverse backgrounds, it is important that they receive adequate support from their teachers in the classroom. When learning a new language, prior life experience is incredibly important, but, if your student lacks this, it will be difficult for them to apply the terms they are learning. Scaffolding techniques like graphic organizers, images with descriptions, simplified questions, and read-alouds are extremely useful. These tools help create helpful interactions between students and both their peers and teacher. It takes almost ten years for a student to become academically fluent - using these tools creates opportunities to help students in this process! 

However, the most important thing I have learned about shaping my ELL classroom revolves around the student's comfort. Attempting to reinforce English-only or discouraging the use of their native language is not only extremely unhelpful in the language learning process, it can also harm their confidence. When a student begins learning a new language, the "silent period" is almost always the first stage they enter. This is when a student is reluctant to speak in the language they are learning, but they are still actively learning it. It takes confidence to begin actively speaking, but if a teacher strictly enforces English-only classrooms, a student might not be prepared. Insulting or treating their native language like it is a bad thing could hurt the confidence they need to begin engaging. Making sure our students are cared for and comfortable to grow in our classroom is the most important thing for any teacher.