Creating a Climate for LearningStrategies for Teaching English Learners in Regular

Classrooms

Cheryl Myers, PresenterEducation Faculty

San Diego Christian College

The idea of“Classroom climate” falls under which of

Krashen’s hypotheses?

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The Affective Filter• From Steven Krashen’s theory on second language

acquisition• Five Hypothesis• Hypothesis # 5—The Affective Filter• Addresses social/emotional variables relating to

2nd language acquisition• Anxiety, fear, nervousness, or stress causes a

defense mechanism (Affective Filter) that blocks learning:Input Filter Output

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Classroom Impact• English learners need a low-anxiety learning

environment• New country, new culture, new school produces

fear and anxiety• New language to learn• New culture and all that implies• New ways to act and learn in a new school situation

(different expectations)

What can you do to create a climate for learning for your EL students?

Three areas: 1. MODIFY your delivery style

2. Modify classroom procedures

3. Modify teaching methods

Work on building an atmosphere of acceptance where English learners:• Feel free to take “risks”• Are not overcorrected• Feel that their home language & culture are

valued• Know that the teacher knows about

both their language and culture• Are not in fear of being teased or mocked for

language mistakes

1. Modify Delivery Style

Some Dos & Don’ts for Delivery Style

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•Allow think time when calling on an EL•Model appropriate language•Modify your speech--slower,

clearer •Try “parentese”—repeating,

rephrasing• Look at class when speaking• Provide other adult English

interaction

DO: Good EL Practices

• Put English learner “on the spot”• Over correct• Speak very loudly, or so slowly that

speech is distorted• Take for granted that EL’s will know

about American culture (birthday parties, Thanksgiving, etc)• Talk with your back turned (writing

on the board, etc.)• Forget that understanding oral

language alone is the EL’s weakness

Don’t

•Set up routines that are always followed: Day’s schedule on board—students know what is

coming and can organize materials Assignments on board—not given verbally only Place to put finished assignments, pick up graded work Place for belongings Opening exercises Restroom requests

2. Modify Your Classroom Procedures

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Other Procedures Put classroom procedures/rules on a poster with drawings to help comprehension.Use repetitive language for whole-class directions. Assign a “buddy” for each EL student.o A bilingual student who speaks English wello A native speaker with a desire to help

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3. Modify Teaching Methods•Present instruction in several modalities—oral with• Visuals:

• Realia, pictures, charts, graphs, mind-maps, videos, writing on board, word walls

• Kinesthetic: • Manipulatives• Motions • Moving

•Music: use to learn facts

Add a multicultural component to a lesson or unit• Use in an appropriate

contextHelps ELs by• Making them “experts” in

an area• Validates their experience• Learning experience for the

rest of the class

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3. Modify Teaching Methods

• Complete the self-assessment checklist

• Think about your attitudes, presuppositions, & yes, even prejudices regarding EL’s in your classroom.

Self Assessment: How am I doing?