5 Practical Strategies to Support ESL Students in the Classroom
If you’re teaching ESL students, finding the right strategies can make a huge difference in helping them thrive. Below are five simple, practical ways to support English learners in your classroom. These tips help create a welcoming environment where students feel comfortable, engaged, and confident.
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1. Use Visual Aids and Realia to Reinforce Learning
Visual aids and real-life objects (known as realia) are incredibly helpful for making vocabulary and concepts stick. When ESL students can see and connect words with physical items or visuals, it helps bridge the language gap.
Tip: Make sure your classroom has plenty of anchor charts displaying vocabulary and content concepts. Create these anchor charts as you teach, so students can connect personally with what’s being learned. Over time, these charts become a reference point, especially for new words.
Example: If you’re teaching about food, bring in different items to describe or categorize by taste, color, or texture. Use images or diagrams to explain abstract concepts or complex ideas. Visual aids help reinforce learning in a memorable way.
2. Use Sentence Starters and Frames to Build Confidence
Sentence starters give ESL students the structure to begin speaking or writing. Many students struggle with how to start, so providing sentence frames takes the pressure off and helps them find their voice.
Tip: Post sentence starters around the room as a quick reminder of how to begin. Starters like "In my opinion…" or "I agree with…" help them jump into discussions.
Examples:
“One reason I think this is…”
“Another example is…”
“This reminds me of…”
“I don’t agree because…”
“In conclusion…”
Having these up consistently gives students confidence to join discussions or begin writing independently.
3. Provide Clear Instructions Using Simplified Language
When it comes to supporting ESL students, simple directions are key. It’s tempting to over-explain, but too many words can make it harder for students to understand. Keeping instructions short and direct works best.
Tip: Write your directions on the board so they’re always visible. Use simple language and limit instructions to one step at a time.
Example: If you’re assigning partner work, instead of saying, “Let’s all work together and talk about this in pairs,” say, “Work with a partner for five minutes.” Fewer words make it easier for ESL students to focus on what’s important.
Keeping language simple prevents confusion and helps students feel secure in understanding the task.
4. Scaffold Lessons and Differentiate Tasks for Greater Understanding
Scaffolding is all about breaking down a lesson into manageable steps, which is crucial for ESL students. Chunking instructions and tasks ensures they can process one part at a time.
Tip: This ties in with using simple language. Focus on one small step before moving on, so students understand each part of the lesson clearly.
Example: When working on writing, start by brainstorming as a group, then create an outline, and finally, have students write independently. Differentiation goes hand-in-hand with scaffolding—adjust tasks based on students’ language proficiency so each student can engage at their own pace.
Chunking and differentiating are simple strategies that make a big impact on student understanding.
The ESL Teacher Membership includes differentiated lesson plans and activities for all proficiency levels, so you can meet students where they are without spending hours preparing separate materials.
5. Use Graphic Organizers to Structure Thinking and Writing
Graphic organizers like Venn diagrams, timelines, and story maps are excellent tools for helping students organize information. For ESL students, graphic organizers provide a clear framework that supports both language and critical thinking.
Tip: Use graphic organizers consistently, especially for writing tasks. Add them to anchor charts so students see how to organize information visually.
Example: A story map helps students break down a narrative by outlining the beginning, middle, and end. Use Venn diagrams to help students compare and contrast ideas in a clear, visual way.
Consistent use of graphic organizers helps ESL students feel confident when tackling new tasks, as they know exactly how to structure their thoughts.
Why These Strategies Matter for ESL Students
Implementing these five strategies can transform the classroom experience for ESL students. By using visual aids, sentence starters, clear instructions, scaffolding, and graphic organizers, you’re building a learning environment where ESL students feel comfortable, confident, and supported.
With these simple methods, you’re giving ESL students the tools they need to succeed, creating a classroom where every student has the chance to learn and grow.
Want more tools to support your ESL students? Join the ESL Teacher Membership and access exclusive resources designed to simplify ESL teaching and empower your students to succeed.
