English Second LanguageEnglish second language students are at risk for falling behind academically.However, with appropriate teaching strategies for ESL (English as a second language) reading and other subjects, these students CAN succeed. Hispanic students, in particular, are at great risk. Too many classroom teachers are unable to meet their needs or have not been trained to do so. These children don't have to fail in school, however, as there are teachers who have had success with non-English speaking children.
Photo courtesy of Shirley Buxton Why are ESL Students at Risk?Hispanic students in the U.S. are about twice as likely as their classmates to read well below average. Why is this?
Teaching English as a Second LanguageChildren naturally learn from others by listening and imitating. In fact, they increase their vocabularies by having conversation with others and by listening to words that are spoken by others. This naturally, in turn, improves their reading comprehension.So what can parents and teachers do to help these esl children learn better? If you think about it, children must become familiar with words by hearing them-—before they “recognize” them in print. Spoken language comes before written language. So, it makes all the sense in the world, to teach English second language children to read, first, in their own language. In fact, this is what leads later to their academic success. Children should be taught the basics of reading in their native language. At the same time they should be learning to speak English. Later, they will be able to learn to read in English. In general, non-English speaking children are highly motivated to learn to speak English. Working with English second language children to learn things in the proper order will greatly enhance their success in school. Parents can help at home by working with their children to read Spanish children's books There will be times, of course, when English will be spoken in the family, but children MUST learn to read first in their most familiar language if they are to succeed at reading. English Second Language to Spanish for Kids English Second Language to Childrens Books
|
and by reading to children in their own language. 
