As a language teacher, I have encountered many English Language Learners (ELL) who struggle with comprehension. The process of decoding words and understanding them, as well as comprehending the surrounding text, can be daunting for students with limited English proficiency. However, there are several strategies you can use to help ELL students improve their comprehension skills.
1. Explicit Vocabulary Instruction-
One of the main reasons ELL students struggle with comprehension is because they lack the vocabulary necessary to understand the material. Explicit vocabulary instruction that incorporates multiple exposures to new words and opportunities to use them in context can make a significant difference in comprehension rates among ELL students.
2. Pre-Reading Strategies-
Before reading a new story or chapter, ELL students should be given proper preparation and instruction, so they don’t get demotivated after reading. This can include previewing the text, discussing the author’s background, and identifying key concepts and vocabulary words.
3. Listening to Books with Audio-
Listening to books with audio can help ELL students hear the proper annunciation of words and comprehend the meaning of phrases and sentences. This approach might also assist in developing skills such as stress and intonation patterns, and listening comprehension.
4. Use Graphic Organizers-
ELL students benefit greatly from graphic organizers as they provide structure and make text information more accessible, resulting in more accurate comprehension. They can help organize and track information while recognizing key concepts, increasing vocabulary, and reinforcing understanding.
5. Leverage Supportive Materials-
Finally, ELL students should be given various supportive materials, like one-on-one time with their teachers, reading/listening-comprehension exercises, and additional opportunities to read and write, make use of audio devices, and use offline resources such as bilingual dictionaries to help establish comprehension.
In conclusion, ELL students can flourish in comprehension with the correct support and strategies. Encouraging vocabulary instruction, pre-reading preparation, resources such as audio-books and graphic organizers, along with supportive materials like reading or writing exercises, will go a long way in improving ELL comprehension at school.
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