The teachers are the front liners in the classroom in every school. It is necessary that as a second language teacher, he/she must develop different key strategies in helping students learn different lessons in learning a second language. First is the vocabulary and language development, through which teachers introduce new concepts by discussing vocabulary words key to that concept. Exploring specific academic terms like for example paradigm starts a sequence of lessons on larger English concepts and builds the students’ background knowledge.

            Another strategy is guided intervention. With this method, teachers structure lessons so students work together to understand what they read- by listening, speaking, reading, and writing collaboratively about the academic concepts in the text.

            In addition, metacognition and authentic assessment is another strategy that a teacher can utilize.  Rather than having students simply memorize information, teachers model and explicitly teach thinking skills (metacognition) crucial to learning new concepts. Research shows that metacognition is a critical skill for learning a second language and a skill used by highly proficient readers of any language. With authentic assessments, teachers use a variety of activities to check students’ understanding, acknowledging that students learning a second language need a variety of ways to demonstrate their understanding of concepts that are not wholly reliant on advanced language skills.

            Still another notable strategy in helping students facilitate learning a second language is called the explicit instruction, or direct teaching of concepts, academic language and reading comprehension strategies needed to complete classroom tasks.

            An English teacher must also consider the use of meaning-based context and universal themes, which refer to taking something meaningful from the students’ everyday lives and using it as a springboard to interest them in academic concepts. Research shows that when students are interested in something and can connect it to their lives or cultural backgrounds they are more highly motivated and learn at a better rate

            Finally, is the use of modeling, graphic organizers, and visuals. The use of a variety of visual aids, including pictures, diagrams, and charts, helps all students—and especially ELL students—easily recognize essential information and its relationship to supporting ideas. Visuals make both the language and the content more accessible to students.

 

Reference:

Alliance for Excellent Education, 2005

By: DULCE GARCIA |T-I| MARIVELES NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – CABCABEN Cabcaben Mariveles, Bataan