FAQs

What questions do you have (and others are probably wondering)? Email them to nparker@phm.k12.in.us and/or ctallman@phm.k12.in.us and we will list them here (with answers from our ENL administrators). Please note that the ENL team meets once a month, so an answer to your question may not be posted immediately.

Q: What can a content teacher do to help ELLs in the content classroom?

A: Post content and language objectives daily. Post instructions daily. Provide models. Speak slowly and clearly, and avoid slang and idioms. Avoid cursive – print only. Use gestures, visuals, and graphic organizers. Pre-teach academic vocabulary with visuals. Provide a word bank of academic vocabulary for tests. Use story maps, sentence starters, and sentence frames for writing. Give extra time for completing tests (and allow use of a bilingual dictionary). Provide background knowledge – ELLs come from different cultures and don’t have the same background knowledge as students who have grown up here. Identify and value the language and culture of the ELL student. (English is not meant to replace their native language.) Use group work and project-based learning instead of lectures whenever possible.

When students learn a new language, they learn conversational language first. Reading, writing, and academic language take longer because the student is learning how to use the language while simultaneously trying to apply it to academic subjects. In general, it takes 1-2 years to learn conversational English and 5-7 years to learn academic language.

Q: Does an ENL teacher/aide also serve as a translator or interpreter?

A: No. A translator or interpreter has a completely different job description requiring the person to be bilingual and fluent in a specific language. Translators and interpreters are hired by the school district to translate key documents (e.g., report cards, student assessments, and other school communication to parents) into a student’s home language, interpret during parent conferences and home visits, and assist at Open Houses. They may also be used to translate other district documents into rare languages.