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ESL stands for English as a Second Language. ESL programs strive to teach all students who are learning English. In these classrooms, students with all language backgrounds are put together and they are all taught in English.  This term refers to the program of instruction designed to support English-Language-Learners.

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Typically, these classes are supplemental to a student's regular classes. In elementary school, ESL students are pulled from their regular classes to attend ESL classes. In middle and high school, it is typically taken in place of an elective.

There can be a variety of native languages spoken by the students in an ESL classroom. In these classrooms, the teacher is not required to speak the native language of any of the students.

ESL teachers must have a Bachelor's degree. These teachers use a variety of strategies to help their students learn and comprehend the English language. They should involve meaningful content and authentic experiences for their students. Their job is to help students learn the dimensions of the English language. For younger students, ESL classes may focus on academic literacy. For older students, the focus may shift to content knowledge and teaching the vast range of interaction styles, depending on the needs of the student. The length of the program is dependent on the student's English proficiency level.

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ESL Classroom Strategy #1: Be Culturally Responsive

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ESL Classroom Strategy #1: Be Culturally Responsive

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It is important for ESL teachers to make their students feel comfortable and known. Most of these students have migrated from all over the world and are entering a place that feels like a new world. Creating a safe place for them to rely on, in the same place where they are learning the new dominant language, does wonders for them academically.

A teacher can ensure this by creating a personal relationship with each student. By taking the time to learn and celebrate each student's culture and their native language, they can include small aspects of each in their lessons. This will create a sense of familiarity and can result in the students being more engaged. A welcoming environment is also a welcoming environment for progress.

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ESL Classroom Strategy #2: Sentence Frames

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ESL Classroom Strategy #2: Sentence Frames

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Sentence frames are another extremely helpful tool for ESL students. It offers them a sense of confidence when trying to articulate their message. Sometimes these students, feel incapable of sounding correct when speaking so they are reluctant to speak at all. Sentence starters give them a little bit of guidance that goes a long way to help know what your student is wanting to communicate!

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Visual aids are helpful to ESL students because it helps increase their comprehension of the words they are seeing and hearing around them. ESL teachers can pair key vocabulary words they use in the classroom with a photo. This is not limited to every day objects, but also words they use in each subject to help communicate concepts. Even providing ESL students with a visual schedule will help them with their day.

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Family engagement in every child's education is vital to success. ESL families can have a great impact by helping reiterate tools and strategies their child is learning at school at home.
Teachers should establish an open line of communication between themselves and the caregivers of their students. By having this established, parents will feel more comfortable relaying any concerns or question and so will the teacher.

Another way to engage families is by showing importance to their culture in the classroom. Celebrating important holidays and events that may not be celebrated in American culture, and asking for parent input. This is a great way of getting parents involved in the classroom and making their family feel empowered and seen.

Another way to get families engaged is by hosting an "ESL Family Engagement Night". Events like these are where families come into the school and can learn what their students are doing in school everyday. Here, teachers and admin can provide strategies or take-home tools that families can use at home.