Early Childhood & Elementary Educator
Emerging Bilingual Readers
Emerging bilingual learners (EBLs) are students that are learning an additional language to the language they use at home. Students may also be multilingual learners, which means that they are learning to be proficient in 3+ languages. It is estimated that 10% of students in the United States are bilingual or multilingual learners (Anderson, 2022a). These students need additional support in the classroom as they learn to become more proficient in the languages they are learning.
One of the primary instructional needs for EBL/MLLs is vocabulary development. Students learn vocabulary in three tiers:
(3) Discipline specific - These words are important for success in different subject areas (math, science, etc.)
(2b) Academic - These words are very important for academic success
(2a) Mature language - These vocabulary words are important for comprehension of text
(1) Conversation - These are words that are used every day
(Anderson, 2022b)
Technology Tools
This is a free app that teaches vocabulary and phrases. Students can use this app at school or at home for individual practice.
Kids Picture Dictionary – This is a free picture dictionary that students can use to practice English words and sentences. The app also features a self-record tool that students can use to record their voice and play it back.
Concepts for Educators
Be Mindful of Students' Unique Backgrounds and Circumstances
Students who are EBL/MLLs come from a variety of backgrounds and cultures. Some students may have recently immigrated to the United States or may be refugees who have fled their home country. Students who have come to the United States as refugees may be facing unique hardships upon their arrive. Refugees often must escape their country quickly so they may not have important documents with them, they may have limited or disrupted formal education, and they may deal with conditions such as anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) because of the hardships affiliated with escaping one’s country. As an educator, it is important to get to know the student and their family individually and to help connect them with resources that can be of service to them. It is also important to recognize that students may need additional opportunities to catch up to their peers and it may take some time (How to support refugee students, 2021).
Communication with Families is Essential
Communicate with the families of all your students, but especially with students who are learning two or more languages. Seek out translation services to help you communicate with families if necessary. Provide weekly newsletters in the home language and in English. Welcome students to share their culture and language in the classroom as they are comfortable (Anderson, 2022a).
Allow and Encourage Students to Share Their Culture
Students should be allowed and encouraged to speak and read both languages they are learning. A student's culture should be welcomed into the classroom as they are comfortable. It is important to get to know students and their families as well to have this relationship (Anderson, 2022a).
Resources for Educators
Multilingual Learners Presentation - Potential Challenges and Strategies
Click image to download.
Concepts and Strategies to Assist Emerging Bilingual & Multilingual Learners
Diverse Book Finder - Bilingual & Multicultural Books
This website offers a wide variety of resources for educators and families of emerging bilingual or multilingual students. The website offers articles, videos, podcasts, and more for educators and families to use to learn strategies and tips for teaching their EBL and EML students.
Strategies & Activities
Teach Non-Fiction First
Teach emerging bilingual and multilingual students non-fiction first is recommended (Anderson, 2022a).
Use Picture Books
Picture books can be used for all ages of readers. Use books that are age-appropriate (Anderson, 2022a).
Use Books On Tape or Listening Activities
Audio books are a great way for students to hear English being spoken fluently. Stories that are interesting to hear will capture the attention of the students. Given technology students can have access to a wide variety of books that suit their interests (Anderson, 2022a).
A good resource for audiobooks can be found here:
https://www.colorincolorado.org/article/listen-and-learn-audio-books.
Use Visuals in the Classroom
Visuals can be picture cues accompanied with words that are used as labels or as an aid in the classroom. Visuals are a recommended strategy to help students find what they need and be independent in the classroom (Anderson, 2022a)
Use Buddies
EBL/EML who are new to the school or the class can be assigned buddies to help them ease the transition. Buddies can be a good tool for students to use while working on in-class assignments too (Anderson, 2022a).
Resources
Anderson, M. (2022a). EL Readers PP. [PowerPoint slides]. College of Education, Winona State University. https://winona.learn.minnstate.edu/d2l/le/content/5932642/viewContent/57427941/View.
Anderson, M. (2022b). Vocab Tiers PP. [PowerPoint slides]. College of Education, Winona State University. https://winona.learn.minnstate.edu/d2l/le/content/5932642/viewContent/57491392/View.
How to support refugee students in your school community. Colorín Colorado. (2021, January 28). Retrieved October 24, 2022, from https://www.colorincolorado.org/article/how-support-refugee-students-ell-classroom