The ENL Teacher as a Language Development Expert and More!

Learn about the role of the ENL teacher and what kinds of expertise they bring to their school community. 

ENL teachers are positioned to be of great value to administrators and content teachers as they are recognized and utilized to assist in embracing the school’s cultural diversity. What is an ELL educator? | Colorín Colorado (colorincolorado.org) 

ENL teachers are language development experts who work with ELLs/MLLs to help them acquire fluency in English through reading, writing, listening and speaking while also learning the content areas. Many school leaders are aware of ENL teachers’ expertise in language development/linguistics, academic vocabulary, background knowledge, scaffolding techniques, comprehensibe input, student interaction, learning strategies and culturally responsive teaching while others still are not. As a result of CCSS, the NYS Blueprint for ELL Success, New Language Arts Progressions, and CR Part 154 changes,  leaders are becoming aware that ELLs are everyones’ kids, so they are likely to promote an inclusive school culture of shared responsibility that fully supports ELLs as well as ENL teachers.  How to Teach English Learners Based on the Science of Reading | Inspired Ideas (medium.com) 

The ENL teacher has much to offer in the changing environment of CKLA,-Second Edition 2022, Next Generation Learning Standards, and a movement towards Co-Teaching, SEL and Culturally Responsive Teaching. NYSED has changed from using four levels to five levels of language progressions for ELLs: Entering, Emerging, Transitioning, Expanding and Commanding. We will need to know what these levels mean, what a student is capable of doing at each level and what scaffolding strategies to use to help them move from one level to the next. The ENL teacher can provide school leaders and content teachers with this information as well as how long it generally takes a student to become proficient in English, although each student is different. New York State  provides Scaffolding Guides which are located here: Supporting All Students: Scaffolding Instruction of ELA and Math | New York State Education Department (nysed.gov) 

In a co-teaching setting, ENL teachers can work with content teachers by assisting them in writing language objectives and teaching academic vocabulary in their content areas. The ENL teacher will offer them scaffolding ideas and support in creating lessons that teach culture, academic language and content together. Hispanic Heritage Booklists and Resources | Colorín Colorado (colorincolorado.org) 

The ENL teacher’s role is also key when the school is determining whether a student is challenged by a language difference vs. a learning disability. The ENL teacher can provide valuable expertise in this area including questions to ask and the characteristics of both language differences and learning disabilities.  Here are a few initial resources:

http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/RTI/guidance/LEPELL.htm          English Learner Tool Kit (OELA) (ed.gov) See Chapter 6

                                                    LD Identification Toolkit Considerations for ELL (rtinetwork.org)