“A substantial body of research suggests that literacy and other skills and knowledge transfer across languages. That is if you learn something in one language you either already know it in another language or can more easily learn it in another language” (Goldenberg, p. 15).
It is important for English language learners to continue to develop their first language. “A substantial body of research suggests that literacy and other skills and knowledge transfer across languages. That is, if you learn something in one language you either already know it in another language or can more easily learn it in another language” (Goldenberg, p. 15). Research suggests that continuing education in the student’s home language will not only improve learning in regular subject areas but can aid the development of a second language. Encourage your child to develop their vocabulary by reading books in their native language at home.
Higher order thinking skills and increased exposure to vast knowledge is also important to your child's development. The development of these skills should not be overlooked or watered down in the effort learn English. Rather than seeing the acquisition of English as the primary goal remember that your child is learning about a variety of topics while they are in school. Encourage your child to talk about what he/she is learning at school both in their home language as well as in English.
Students learning in a second language will need ample support as they are learning the same skills and knowledge as non-ELL students while taking on the additional cognitive load of learning a second language. This will be especially difficult for children who are in the initial stages of language acquisition. In choosing which program to enroll your child in, look for school programs that provide sheltered or structured instruction for English language learners. Sheltered instruction programs will be beneficial for children just beginning to learn English as a second language while structured programs may be more beneficial for students with a higher level of proficiency in the English language. Both programs use English as the mode of instruction, teach a rich curriculum and utilize a variety of research-based effective strategies for teaching English Language Learners- very different from the "sink or swim" model of instruction.
Higher order thinking skills and increased exposure to vast knowledge is also important to your child's development. The development of these skills should not be overlooked or watered down in the effort learn English. Rather than seeing the acquisition of English as the primary goal remember that your child is learning about a variety of topics while they are in school. Encourage your child to talk about what he/she is learning at school both in their home language as well as in English.
Students learning in a second language will need ample support as they are learning the same skills and knowledge as non-ELL students while taking on the additional cognitive load of learning a second language. This will be especially difficult for children who are in the initial stages of language acquisition. In choosing which program to enroll your child in, look for school programs that provide sheltered or structured instruction for English language learners. Sheltered instruction programs will be beneficial for children just beginning to learn English as a second language while structured programs may be more beneficial for students with a higher level of proficiency in the English language. Both programs use English as the mode of instruction, teach a rich curriculum and utilize a variety of research-based effective strategies for teaching English Language Learners- very different from the "sink or swim" model of instruction.