Strategies to Help ELL Students Gain the Confidence to Speak English in Class

12/02/22 • 10 min

Getting comfortable speaking a foreign language in public is a hurdle most ELL students must overcome to participate in class. In this discussion, ELL teachers share strategies to help students break through any hesitance or concerns.

Follow on Twitter: @Laleh114000 @drivannia @Tools4Teacherss @JodyNolf @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork, @Jonharper70bd

Laleh Ghotbi started her teaching career in 1992 in Iran, where she taught in middle and high school for 7 years and worked as an academic coach at the school district for the next two year. In August 2000, she came to the United States with her husband and their 8-year-old son. Since then, she has worked as an Academic Enhancement Coordinator at Indian Hills Elementary for two years and earned two masters’ degrees; Master of Science and Technology-Biotechnology from the University of Utah, and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Westminster College where she graduated with honors and was chosen as the student speaker for the 2017 commencement.
Dr. Ivannia Soto is a Professor of Education and Director of Graduate Programs at Whittier College, where she specializes in language acquisition, systemic reform for English language learners (ELLs), and urban education. She began her career in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), where she taught English and English Language Development to a population of 99.9% Latinos, who either were or had been multilingual learners. Before becoming a professor, Dr. Soto also served LAUSD as a literacy coach, as well as district office and county office administrator.

Jody Nolf is a former public school educator and has a degree in English, certification in reading and ESOL, and a master’s degree in leadership and administration. For over twenty years, she has taught English and Reading to middle and high school students. Six years ago, she transitioned into the world of ESOL as a full-time coordinator and advocate for ELL learners. In 2020, she was named a Champion of Equity by the American Consortium for Equity in Education. In June of 2022, she began a new career at Vista Higher Learning as the Florida Literacy and Language Sales Specialist. She continues to share her passion for literacy and advocate for multilingual learners.

Anastasia Martinez has worked with Multilingual learners in the United States and abroad for more than 10 years. Currently, she is serving Multilingual learners and their families in Pittsburg, CA as an ELD and AVID Excel teacher.

Follow on Twitter: @Laleh114000 @drivannia @Tools4Teacherss @JodyNolf @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork, @Jonharper70bd

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Sparking Students’ Intrinsic Motivation in a Post-Pandemic Classroom

Tapping into our students’ intrinsic motivation is more important than ever in our post-pandemic classrooms. Join us as we share the insights and engagement strategies that are working and identify the ones that aren’t.

Follow on Twitter: @CShawR10@riordan_meg @irina_mcgrath @AndrewSharosAP@larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork, @Jonharper70bd

Chandra Shaw has more than 24 years of experience in education, as a teacher, reading specialist, instructional coach, and now a Literacy Consultant at Region10 Education Service Center providing professional development, planning assistance, and instructional coaching services to more than 120 districts in the DFW area. Whether as a TEDx speaker and amateur YouTuber Chandra loves to find creative ways to share her passion and love for teaching and learning with educators everywhere.

Meg Riordan, Ph.D. is the Chief Learning Officer for The Possible Project, entrepreneurship and work-based learning program that works to advance economic equity by supporting young people to develop an entrepreneurial spirit, skills, and networks to launch successful careers. She has been in the field of education for almost 30 years as a middle and high school teacher, ELL instructor, college professor, Regional Director of NYC Outward Bound Schools, and Director of External Research with EL Education. She was a Deeper Learning Equity Fellow and her research focuses on teacher professional learning, equity, experiential learning, and scaling-up school designs.

Irina McGrath is an ESL expert and English Language Learner herself. She serves Jefferson County Public Schools as an Education Recovery Specialist. She is a co-director of the Louisville Writing Project (LWP) and a University of Louisville & Indiana University Southeast adjunct who teaches ESL/ENL Instruction as well as Assessment, Literature, and Cultural and Linguistic Diversity courses. Irina was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Russia. Michelle Shory is a veteran language educator with 24 years of experience in five states. She is currently a district ESL instructional coach in Jefferson County Public Schools, Louisville, KY. She is passionate about literacy and high quality (and engaging) professional learning. Michelle helped establish Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Louisville.

Andrew Sharos is a current administrator and teacher who lives in Chicago. He is the founder and CEO of the Village Project Consulting Group, which provides professional development to schools to improve their AP programs, their new teacher mentorship programs, and their overall culture of success. Also Amazon best-selling author for All 4s and 5s: A Guide for Teaching and Leading Advanced Placement Programs and Finding Lifelines: A Practical Tale about Teachers and Mentors.

Next Episode

Accepting and Giving Classroom Feedback: What Works?

Even constructive, positive feedback can be difficult to offer and receive. How can we make giving and accepting feedback more palpable and effective?

Follow on Twitter: @AnnHC_Champ4All @AshleyCKearney@larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork, @Jonharper70bd

Ashley Kearney is an education organizer and award winning secondary mathematics educator with experience as a teacher leader and effectiveness development coach in school-based and alternative teacher development programs. Ashley received her Masters from Johns Hopkins University and currently serves as a 2021-2022 Albert Einstein Distinguished Fellow.
Ann Hlabangana-Clay has been an instructional leader, coach, and presenter serving students and adult learners in Delaware and Pennsylvania for 28 years. She is the host of the Coaching You Through All Things Education Podcast and is passionate about providing equitable opportunities for every learner by dismantling barriers, building relationships, increasing capacity, and restoring resilience – one educator and one student at a time.