Beyond Conversational: Supporting Long-Term English Learners (LTELs)
Join host Melissa Grinstead, Lead ESOL Contributor for AWB Education, as she tackles a critical and often-overlooked group of students: Long-Term English Learners (LTELs). These are students who have spent five or more years in English learning programs yet still struggle to access grade-level content due to difficulties with academic language.
Melissa explores why LTELs often get overlooked in classroom settings, emphasizing the crucial distinction between conversational language (BICS) and academic language (CALP)
Understanding this difference is key to identifying specific skill gaps that prevent LTELs from achieving academic success.Listeners will receive a set of highly practical, actionable strategies for supporting LTELs, including:
- Providing explicit instruction in advanced academic vocabulary and complex grammar structures.
- Utilizing visuals and realia to make abstract concepts concrete.
- Implementing sentence frames and graphic organizers to scaffold complex writing and discussions.
- Creating meaningful collaborative learning opportunities to practice academic discourse.
- Strategically leveraging students' native languages (L1) as a resource for cognitive development and content comprehension.
The episode also provides invaluable tips for engaging families and ensuring that all classroom supports are inclusive, recognizing the immense potential of LTELs when they receive targeted instruction.Sponsored by: AWB Education and Grundmeyer Leader Services.Find out more about our work at:
- https://awbeducation.org
- https://grundmeyerleadersearch.com
Listen to the full episode:
https://push.fm/fl/yourmorningboost
