4 Easy Ways to Help English Language Learners Feel Comfortable in Your Classroom

To help English Language Learners feel comfortable in your classroom, make sure they feel safe, valued, respected, and confident!

3 Easy steps you can take to help English Language Learners feel safe, valued, and respected in your Classroom!

A few years ago, I found myself driving home, nearly in tears, wondering, “How on earth can I help English Language Learners in my class get through this?” It was about 2 months into the school year, and we had just found out our school building had been condemned. Yup, condemned. We had less than an hour to get everything we needed out of our classrooms and prepare for an unknown amount of time teaching half days on another school’s campus. Other teachers were scrambling for workbooks and whiteboards, and I stared at my classroom just wondering, how on earth can I make my students feel safe? The thing was, just a week before, my class of all-refugee students had been comparing stories about times when they were in buildings that were bombed. Now, I was faced with telling them that the very walls of our classroom--our safe place-- were not so safe after all.  I had to figure out how to help English Language Learners in my classroom not only learn, but feel safe along the way. With a lot of patience and showing students that they were respected, valued, and loved every day, we made it through and became closer as a class. 

Now, I’m *hoping* that you’re not dealing with a condemned building or any other catastrophic event, but the truth of the matter is, no matter what, our students need to feel safe in our classroom. This is especially true for our refugee students, as so many of them have faced traumatic events in their schools, homes, and other safe places in their home countries. I’ve found that helping ESL students feel valued, respected, and confident can go a long way toward helping students feel comfortable in your classroom! So, if you're wondering how to make students feel comfortable in the classroom, read on! 

Help English Language Learners Feel Valued:
​Get Their Names Right, Every Time ​

I’ve talked about this before, and I’ll always keep talking about it… saying a student’s name correctly is one of THE most important things you can do as a teacher! I know it seems simple, but saying a student’s name correctly has an incredible impact on how valued a student feels in your classroom. Taking time to say a student’s name right will show your students that you care about them, they are important, and their identity is valued in your classroom. 
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Now, let me tell you….this doesn’t always work out the first time. Or the second. Or the third. Some names are difficult for native English speakers, but that doesn’t mean give up! Whenever I meet a new student, I ask them to be honest with me and tell me if I’m saying their name correctly. If it’s a no, I ask them to teach me and give them guidance on how to do it. I ask them which part I’m saying wrong and ask them to say it slowly over and over again. At this point, I either get it right, or the class is in a fit of giggles as I keep trying. We don’t stop until I get it right, though, and I always INSIST that my students keep correcting me whenever I get it wrong (because let’s be real… I probably will) 

If you really want to help English Language Learners feel safe in your classroom, start by making sure you're saying their name correctly!

Being this persistent about getting names right does two incredible things for your students. First, it will help your English Language Learners see that they are SO important, you are willing to stop everything and spend time to get their name right. Who wouldn’t love that? Second, it shows your English Language Learners that even you can struggle with a new language. I don’t have to tell you that learning English is difficult, but your students might not realize that learning a language is difficult for everyone. Model persistence, dedication, and repetition. It’ll show your students you're human and help them see that mistakes happen...and that’s ok!

Help English Language Learners Feel Respected:
​Remember Their Genius

I know I’m not the only teacher that has seen people completely dismiss English Language Learners. One time, I even had a student denied the opportunity to take the Gifted Learner test because he was a refugee! (That’s a whole ‘nother story for a different time) The thing is, our English Language Learners tend to be incredibly intelligent. They are generally amazing problem-solvers, empathetic, knowledgeable, and have an incredible worldview to top it off. Just because they have gaps in their schooling doesn’t mean they haven’t learned a lot. The knowledge my students have always blows me away! 

The problem is, it can be difficult for students to share this knowledge when they don’t speak English fluently yet. Finding opportunities for students to share their expertise is such an important part of them feeling confident, valued, respected, and safe in your classroom! Here’s a few ideas to get you started. 
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• Allow students to pick a topic they are knowledgeable about for a report or presentation 
• Have them help new students learn about the school or how things are done in your classroom 
• Ask them to show you other strategies for problem solving they have learned 
• When learning grammar/ spelling/ etc. ask them to explain how something is done in a language they speak 
• Have students teach you and/or the class  their language ​

To help English Language Learners, remember they are incredible sources of knowledge, even if they've missed years of formal schooling!

I make it a rule not to default to any of my students on current or historical events in their country. If the topic comes up in class, I allow them to choose if they would like to contribute or not. If I know something in our curriculum deals with something in their home country (i.e. the war in Afghanistan), I try to talk to them ahead of time to give them a warning and ask how they would like to proceed. Some students love talking about things in their country because they’re the expert! Other students would prefer to never talk about their home country again. Always take their lead, and give space for feelings that change!

Help English Language Learners Feel Confident:
​Use Age-Appropriate Resources

Once upon a time, I was handed cute kindergarten worksheets with adorable little clipart for my 8th-grade students, because “This is the level they’re at.” WHOO. No thank you. It sent me right back to sitting with a student when I taught in China and feeling so down on myself because I couldn’t read all the words in “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” ...even though I’d been studying Chinese for over a decade! I just kept telling myself “Come on. You’ve learned for more than 10 years and you can’t read a book for toddlers? What a failure.” 

Guess what? That’s what your students are thinking too. I’ve made an oath to never give my students “little kid” work, and I hope you will too.

Using level appropriate resources, that are also age-appropriate, is a great way to help English Language Learners feel respected.

The thing is, sometimes our students really do need the same work that kindergarteners, or even preschool students, are doing. You might have students that have never held a pencil before, or students who have never seen English letters. They need that base! Don’t take it away from them. But also, don’t hand them a worksheet covered in designs that are clearly made for a 5-year-old. Take a little bit of time to remake the assignment with age-appropriate fonts and illustrations. Type up that letter writing sheet and don’t add any clipart. Change out the drawings in that beginning reader for real photographs. It may take a bit of time to change out, but it is SO worth it! 

Students know their levels. They know where they’re at. They know they are learning the same thing as the little guys. That extra effort you put in to make the assignments look age-appropriate will do wonders for their self-esteem. They’ll go from “Oh my goodness, my teacher thinks I’m a baby” to “This assignment is a perfect fit for me!” Students who are respected feel safe, valued, and confident. Isn’t that what we all want? 

I know finding work that is age and level appropriate for older English Language Learners can be SO tricky  and can take up so much time that teachers just don’t have, so I’ve made it my goal to make them myself! If you’re looking for no-prep, differentiated, age and level-appropriate resources, just click here! Need to teach a topic but don’t see a resource that matches? Email me at [email protected]. If I’m able to make it, you’ll get a copy for free! ​

Help English Language Learners Feel Like They Belong: Classroom Environment 

Your classroom environment can go a long way in helping students feel like they are true members of your class. Now, I'm not saying you need a Pinterest-worthy room, or even that you need to spend a whole summer or hours after school setting up your room. Just displaying a few things that are important to your students can go a long way! 

We all have probably taken a moment in our teaching career to hang up stellar work or a sweet card or drawing from our students, and that is an excellent place to start! Displaying student work helps students see that their work is valued and they are succeeding! 

For ESL students, though, we can take it a step further! Ask your students to share something they have written in their home language, and display it where everyone can see. This shows students that their whole selves belong in the classroom, and it also makes a great conversation starter! 

You might also want to consider displaying flags or pictures from students' home countries, pictures of your students together, cultural artifacts, or anything else that would represent your students as people. Ask your students if they have anything they'd like to bring in and put on display in the classroom! Gathering items directly from your students is a great way to make sure your classroom environment reflects the students you teach, and helps every student feel like they, and their culture, belong! (Just a little reminder, though...don't forget to put a sticky note on the items so you can return them to their owners at the end of the year!) 

Bonus Tip: Show Them You’re Trying, and Give Yourself Some Grace

Learning English is hard. Navigating a new country is hard. Navigating a new school system in a new country in a new language is hard. I could go on and on.

But you know what? Trying to figure out how to help English Language Learners in the classroom is hard too! Know that you’re not going to get it right all of the time, and that’s ok. Your students will appreciate seeing that their teacher cares and is trying, but they’ll also appreciate seeing that even you can make mistakes. Communicate with your students openly. Tell them what you’re working on, what you’re struggling with, and what you’re doing to fix your mistakes. Brainstorm as a class and figure out how to solve the problems you’re facing. Be honest with them and share what’s up. They’ll appreciate it, and it’ll probably help you, too!  

Be sure to take a moment for yourself every so often too! Self-care is oh-so important when you're teaching, but especially when you're working with ESL students. Plan a moment for yourself every day to take a walk, enjoy your favorite coffee, color, or even start your own blog!  Taking time for yourself will help you be the best teacher you can be! 

You help English Language Learners through challenges every day...don't forget to give yourself the same grace you give your students!

The best way to help English Language Learners feel comfortable in your classroom is to make an effort every day to show them they are safe, respected, and valued...perfection not needed! 

Check out this free resource to help English Language Learners in your classroom!