Teaching English language learners (ELLs) can be challenging for new teachers, especially if they lack the training, resources, and support they need. As a mentor, you can help them develop their skills and confidence in working with ELLs by using some effective strategies. Here are some of them:
One of the best ways to show new teachers how to teach ELLs is to model and co-teach with them. You can demonstrate effective strategies, such as using visuals, scaffolding, differentiation, and formative assessment, while co-teaching with your mentee. You can also provide feedback, guidance, and encouragement during and after the lesson. This way, you can help your mentee observe, practice, and reflect on their teaching.
Mentorship and Collaboration: Pair new teachers with experienced mentors who have expertise in ELL instruction. Encourage collaboration among teachers, especially in co-teaching or team-teaching situations, to share best practices and strategies. Cultural Competence: Offer training on cultural competence and sensitivity to help teachers understand and respect the cultural backgrounds of their ELL students. ELL Pedagogy: Familiarize teachers with research-based ELL pedagogical approaches such as the SIOP (Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol) model, WIDA standards, or other relevant frameworks. Encourage teachers to incorporate these frameworks into their lesson planning and instruction.
In my experience, before I teach/coach/consult/train anybody... I need to learn who they are first. Also, it helps to learn about their background, their current state and their future goal. Once I understand who they are, then I can start to train them. Because we all learn in different ways...right??! One of my favorite ways to learn who they are is to have them take the Myers Briggs test. This has helped me tremendously in my own career. Once I get their Myers Briggs test, then I can understand how they prefer to learn, how they prefer to be taught, and how they prefer to be lead.
Classroom observation and feedback: New teachers benefit from having experienced educators observe their classroom practices and provide constructive feedback. This helps them identify areas for improvement and refine their teaching methods. Peer collaboration: Collaborating with fellow teachers, especially those experienced in ELL instruction, allows new teachers to share ideas, resources, and best practices. Peer support fosters a supportive learning environment and helps teachers adapt to the needs of English language learners more effectively.
You can add instructions for your students to follow an hand out work sheets to students to complete in the sessions, and monitor and observe students during and after the sessions.
Another way to help new teachers develop their skills in working with ELLs is to share resources and strategies that you have found useful. You can recommend books, websites, podcasts, or videos that offer practical tips, insights, and examples of teaching ELLs. You can also share your own lesson plans, materials, activities, or assessments that you have used or adapted for ELLs. You can explain how and why you use them, and how they benefit your ELL students.
In the beginning of the year, have a coffee/tea/nibbles gathering set-up, similar to speed-dating, if you will, where veteran teachers are matched with a new teacher. They will meet 1:1 introductions/chat...the veteran teacher will share 1 strategy that they find helpful and the new teacher will ask 1 question. Then they rotate, about 10 minutes each rotation. Give everyone a week head's up so they can formulate their question list or strategy/relevant handout. They will walk away feeling more comfortable with their new colleagues helping settle new teacher nerves AND have a handful of strategies to start using. It is fairly simple and inexpensive to set-up and could be part of your beginning of year department meeting or teacher prep week.
One thing I've found helpful is the VARK assessment. This assessments help me to understand how they learn best. The acronym VARK stands for Visual, Aural, Read/write, and Kinesthetic/[Tactile] sensory modalities that are used for learning information. Once, I understand this, then I can customize my training method to each student (if it's feasible of course). This usually works with smaller classroom sizes. For example, I am a kinesthetic learner by far. Which means I am a hands-on learner. So, it is crucial for me to get my hands dirty and experiment.
A third way to help new teachers develop their skills in working with ELLs is to facilitate collaboration and networking with other teachers who have experience or interest in teaching ELLs. You can introduce your mentee to other colleagues who teach ELLs, or invite them to join professional learning communities, workshops, or conferences that focus on ELL education. You can also encourage your mentee to collaborate with other teachers on planning, teaching, or assessing ELLs. This way, you can help your mentee learn from others, exchange ideas, and expand their network.
When I worked at a language school in Milan, Italy. I realized that the school did not want the teachers collaborating for some strange reason. The school would also make us wait 2,3,4 sometimes 5 months before they would pay us. So I created a Whatsapp group so that we could communicate amongst ourselves and share ideas or cover each others' classes. We also had another teacher or 2 that would organize happy hours where we would hang out, talk, and share ideas.
At the end of the school year, have your new ELL teachers write a letter to a new ELL teacher giving advice based on their first-year as teachers. In the beginning of the next school year, have a coffee/tea/nibbles gathering set-up for new ELL teachers and let them casually sit around reading the various letters independently or aloud. Give each one a copy of the set of letters to keep for reference. Let them know they will continue this cycle at the end of the school year writing their own letter for next year's teachers. Then have the veteran teachers come in and introduce themselves or follow-up with the strategy roundtable activity I added in the #2 Share Resources & Strategies section.
A fourth way to help new teachers develop their skills in working with ELLs is to support their professional growth. You can help your mentee set goals, monitor their progress, and celebrate their achievements in teaching ELLs. You can also help your mentee identify their strengths and areas for improvement, and suggest ways to address them. You can also help your mentee explore opportunities for further learning, such as taking courses, earning certifications, or pursuing degrees related to ELL education. This way, you can help your mentee grow as a teacher and as a lifelong learner.
In my experience, I tell other teachers to get results first before they worry about certifications and fancy pieces of paper. Results have always trumped everything else in my experience. Just help students reach their goals in a reasonable time and if you have extra time to get a certification, then that's fine too! One of the top sources that helps students to increase confidence in themselves is to see another student that looks, acts, and talks like them and was able to achieve the same result that they wanted. Results over everything!
A fifth way to help new teachers develop their skills in working with ELLs is to foster a positive attitude. You can help your mentee appreciate the diversity, richness, and potential of ELLs, and see them as assets rather than liabilities. You can also help your mentee overcome any fears, doubts, or frustrations they may have in teaching ELLs, and replace them with confidence, enthusiasm, and curiosity. You can also help your mentee develop a growth mindset, and embrace challenges and feedback as opportunities for learning. This way, you can help your mentee develop a positive attitude that will motivate them to teach ELLs effectively.
We can all learn from anyone. I have learned so much from my students. I've worked with 5 year olds all the way up to CEO's and executives. And they all teach me something. One of the main takeaways that they taught me in regards to having a positive attitude is that my energy affects the whole classroom. If I am hungry, sad, or not in the mood, they can feel that! When I am upbeat, smiling, and having fun then I see that it rubs off on them. We set the tone in our classrooms.
Be patient. This is a process. This goes for both mentors, mentees, and students. In a world filled with desires to get to the finish line as fast possible, language learning takes time. When it comes to learning anything new, there is no one size fits all. What works for me, may not necessarily work for you. And that goes for mentees, mentors, students... Anybody!! Even if we have the same personality type or learning style, my preferences may be slightly different from yours. So... Enjoy the process, make mistakes and have fun!