Developing an Effective ENL Program
Average Timeline for Learning a New Language
Social Language 1-3 years
Academic Language 5-7 years
Native-Like Fluency 7-10 years
OVERVIEW:
Providing leadership to English language learners is a novel challenge for school districts in some unlikely places. Committed, knowledgeable school leaders in rural and suburban districts across the country are moving to keep pace with their rapidly growing ELL populations in a rapidly changing learning environment. It is also a challenge in larger school districts now.
We have provided helpful information here to get you started in your quest for a successful rural and suburban ENL program for your ELL students. Included here are some presentations relating to second language development. There are also articles/videos developed specifically for school leaders of ELLs. Please consider your ENL teachers as your language development experts who can provide guidance to your staff regarding ELLs in the general classroom and online.
ELL Content Resources (padlet)
SO WHAT DOES AN ENL TEACHER DO?
Yes, surprisingly this question is still asked by many every school year !!
-Many think that ENL is a support service, but ENL is not an intervention. It is an integral part of high quality Tier 1 Instruction.
-ENL is a stand-alone language development program.
The ENL teacher has three main roles in our schools:
1. English Language Development (Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking)
Small group instruction/cooperative learning
Use of bilingual picture dictionaries/glossaries and many other visuals: maps, graphs
Scaffolding: sentence stems & starters, graphic organizers Differentiation
Linguistics Academic Language Vocabulary Strategies
Word Walls with graphics & Anchor Charts
Language objectives are posted for students to see
Integrating Literacy with Content
Culturally Responsive Teaching methods Multicultural Books
Gradual Release Method and Extra time for test taking
2. Provide Meaningful Access to Grade Level Learning ( Ex. Scaffolding, Language Objectives, Activating Background Knowledge, Comprehensible Input, Can-Do Descriptors) Krashen on How We Learn Language
3, Capacity Building: Advocating and sharing expertise with colleagues and the local community through co-teaching, involvement in teacher groups, sharing ENL websites & Toolkits, articles, posting ENL slide shows & presenting at staff meetings and teacher workshops. Ex. Answers to Common ENL Questions-CANVA Presentation
NOTE: ENL teachers do not translate, but they can suggest several good tech tools that can be used for this purpose, and districts also hire Interpreters (inquire at your local RBERN) who are trained for this task. Best School Communication Programs are discussed Here Sample Curriculum Map by Proficiency Level Here
Helping Colleagues Understand the Role of the ENL Teacher
What does an Actual ENL Lesson Look Like? (Video)
View an ENL lesson from an Elementary school in Syracuse, NY. The teacher posts and discusses lesson objectives for ELLs before starting the lesson. Gradual release is one strategy used here. (I do, we do, you do) The teacher also demonstrates modeling. Students learn targeted vocabulary in small groups with peer assisted instruction/student leaders,
Understanding the 5 Different Language Levels (Video)
This video explains what students can do at the 5 levels and offers some helpful strategies for teachers. For example, newcomer ELLs will need to start with basic vocabulary and survival skills. There may be a silent period while they listen and learn. Begin by working on essential vocabulary with pictures and word walls to include greetings, classroom items and basic grammar.
You are an amazing and dedicated professional. The work that you do for your school is appreciated. Thank you for your dedication and the time you put in to enable your students' success. In this article, the author shares strategies for how to spend your much needed time in the summer instead of creating lesson plans!
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ENL Overview and Strategies- YouTube Video-14 minutes of excellent teaching ELL Support Docs
ENL Professional Development Getting started with learning about ENL
Developing an ELL Master Plan- Here are the 10 components to include in your ELL program.
The Role of the Principal in ENL Programs - This article provides an overview of principal leadership practices in one secondary school that has evidenced high growth rates of English development in ELs.
Stages of Second Language Acquisition - Second-language acquisition assumes knowledge in a first language and encompasses the process an individual goes through as he or she learns the elements of a new language, such as vocabulary, phonological components, grammatical structures, and writing systems.
ELLs and Academic Language - Helping English-language learners develop proficiency in academic language has always been a priority for K-12 educators, and its importance has only been heightened with the advent of the Common Core.
Culturally Responsive Instruction - This article examines the challenges faced by school leaders in cultural responsiveness by providing ‘best practices’ for their English language learners.
Administrators in Action: Four Steps to Strengthen Your ESL Program - Great ideas for education leaders of ELLs from Ayanna Cooper!
Gonzalez, V. (n.d.). Infographics. Serving Multilingual Learners of All Ages. Retrieved from https://www.valentinaesl.com/infographics.html
