Guide to Creating a Welcoming Environment for new ELL Students
Creating an environment where ELL students feel welcome will help them feel more confident and comfortable in the classroom. A welcoming environment will also help foster positive relationships between student and their teacher or peers. It is important to understand the change and feelings an ELL student may be feeling when they're adjusting to their new setting and classroom.
Ways to Foster a Welcoming Environment:
Respect the student's feelings during their adjustment period or "silent period"
Take the time to learn their name and how to properly pronounce it
Smile often and use positive body language
Find connections and build a good rapport
Stages of Cultural Accommodation:
Euphoria: ELLs may experience an initial period of excitement about their new surroundings.
Culture shock: ELLs may then experience anger, hostility, frustration, homesickness, or resentment towards the new culture.
Acceptance: ELLs may gradually accept their different surroundings.
Assimilation/adaptation: ELLs may embrace and adapt to their surroundings and their "new" culture.
How to Create a Welcoming Classroom Environment for Ells. ColorĂn Colorado. (2023, January 26). Retrieved March 2, 2023, from https://www.colorincolorado.org/article/how-create-welcoming-classroom-environment