Welcome the ESL student by introducing her to the class. Pronounce her name correctly and let the rest of the class know what her primary language is. Talk to the class about the ESL student's culture and the parts of the world in which her language is spoken. Encourage the student to share information about herself and her culture if she is comfortable doing so.
Provide the ESL student with a non-ESL buddy. Often ESL students look to peers to understand directions or their role in class activities. Select a non-ESL student whom you know is both willing and able to help the ESL student in the classroom as needed. Besides eliminating the ESL student's anxiety about knowing what is going on in the classroom, this can also foster a more inclusive classroom environment where ESL students are able to participate along with their native English-speaking peers.
Post labels on common classroom objects in both English and in the primary language of ESL students. For example, if an ESL student's primary language is Spanish, label the classroom door with the word "door" and "la puerta," which is "door" in Spanish. This helps the ESL student learn common words, and helps to create a more inclusive classroom. You can also hang pictures of different items on bulletin boards and label them in both languages.
Give instructions orally. ESL students are often better at listening and speaking than reading. Reciting printed instructions aloud can help ESL students understand what they are supposed to do during class activities or on written assignments. This also gives ESL students the opportunity to practice reading along while the teacher reads out loud.
Use hands-on activities and materials to make content more meaningful. ESL students often struggle with abstract concepts. Hands-on activities and materials help make concepts in math and science more concrete, which increases understanding and enhances learning. For example, provide students with flat and three-dimensional shapes when teaching geometry terms.
Use scaffolding techniques to help ESL students succeed. Scaffolding is a method of providing students with extra assistance and support as needed. ESL students will quickly become discouraged if they cannot be successful in the classroom. Scaffolding techniques, such as modeling a required task and practicing the task as a class with teacher guidance, can provide ESL students with the extra help they need to achieve. The more ESL students are successful in the classroom, the more comfortable they will be participating in class activities.