Lamar University offers an online Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Teacher Leadership with a Specialization in ESL. This degree program helps educational leaders improve learning, achievement and ESL education for English language learners (ELLs).
This program’s emphasis is especially important in today’s remote and hybrid education environments. The circumstances that surround virtual and blended classrooms can compound the challenges that ELLs face every day. Advanced study of ESL instruction can give educational leaders the vital tools they need to overcome these challenges.
What Challenges Do ELLs and Teachers Face in Distance Learning?
The transition to distance learning has affected all students and teachers. Maintaining continuity of instruction and student engagement can be extremely difficult when in-person learning is unavailable or limited. Educators have adapted their teaching practices to virtual environments, where they have integrated helpful educational technology tools.
These tools can help maintain continuity between in-person and virtual instruction, whether entirely online or in a blended or hybrid classroom. However, educational technologies also come with a learning curve and limitations. Furthermore, unequal access to the internet and digital devices can put many students at a disadvantage.
This digital divide can be significant for students learning English. The virtual environment often doesn’t provide as much opportunity for face-to-face interaction and body language essential to language acquisition.
Effective remote education also depends on parent and caretaker involvement. Families become essential educational stakeholders when students are at home for synchronous instruction, where direct teacher-to-student communication is minimal.
However, if family members don’t speak fluent English, they may not help with schoolwork. Family members and caretakers may not be technologically savvy, meaning the level of support they can give students using educational technologies may be insufficient.
What Tools Can Teachers Use to Help ELLs in the Virtual Environment?
Educational technologies can enrich the learning experience in physical and virtual classrooms by bridging the home and school learning experiences. This is essential to fostering continuity in education while school communities face recurring transitions to distance or hybrid learning models.
Educational technologies like ReadTheory constantly monitor and assess student progress. They are designed to continuously reinforce and build on what students have learned while revisiting and supporting areas that need improvement. This is very useful when educators don’t have as much face-to-face time to offer ELLs.
Synchronous, face-to-face instruction is still possible on platforms like Zoom. Students and ESL specialists can message each other on these platforms to address language-learning challenges during lessons.
Teachers can also record lessons using various virtual classroom platforms and apps. This allows students to progress through lessons at their own pace. ELLs can take advantage of the captioning and translation software in these programs to help complete lessons.
Students can use other embedded tools and browser extensions that read text aloud or highlight new vocabulary words (which can also hyperlink to other media, like videos and pictures, that aid in contextual comprehension).
Students and teachers can also use apps like Flipgrid to make their own videos, introduce topics or questions, and collaborate with others. This allows ELLs to edit their responses incrementally and work toward more fluid, “one-take” video responses. Students who are shy or insecure about their English comprehension may find this more comfortable than live interactions.
Kahoot! is another technology that allows students and teachers to create learning outcome-aligned educational games that integrate student interests and educational content. Engaging ELLs by exploring their interests can inspire them to express what they learn and what they’re passionate about. This can be highly motivational.
Collaboration Is Key
Success in distance learning relies on collaboration within the educational community. General classroom teachers, teacher leaders, and ESL teachers must work together and use the same tools to maximize each student’s education.
Educators should build relationships with family, caretakers, and community members to engage everyone in a student’s education. This means connecting with and educating families in the use of educational technologies employed in the virtual classroom.
Where language barriers exist, teachers can communicate with families through programs like the Talking Points app, which allows users to send and receive messages in their language of choice.
It’s also important to encourage families to continue working with their children in their native languages. Continued literacy development in one’s native language can support language acquisition in secondary languages.
Teaching ESL students in virtual and blended classroom settings can certainly be challenging. However, with innovative educational technologies and collaborative approaches to ESL education, today’s educational leaders can ensure ELLs thrive and achieve, no matter the classroom environment.
Learn more about Lamar University’s online Master of Education in Teacher Leadership with a Specialization in ESL.
Sources:
Ed Source: Families Face the Demands of Online and Hybrid Learning
Ed Tech: How to Support English Language Learners During E-Learning
Education Week: English-Language Learners Need More Support During Remote Learning
Mid-Tesol: Flipgrid for the ESL Classroom
Read Theory: Remote ESL Learning
Simply Ieva: ESL and Remote Learning: Free Tech Tools to the Rescue
Simply Ieva: How to Help Your ESL Students in Distance Learning Model
Tech & Learning: How to Manage ESL/ELL Students During Remote Learning
three
