10 Tips for Making Teacher Talk More Comprehensible for English Learners

Today’s classrooms include increasing numbers of students who are learning English in addition to one or more other languages. Teachers should be aware of the needs of their English learners and adjust their speaking style during instruction to make their talk more comprehensible to all students.

Adapted from the upcoming book Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners, Fourth Edition, by Wayne E. Wright, here are 10 simple ways teachers can make their speech clearer and more understandable to English learners.

• Slow down! Use a slower rate of speech when talking to students at beginning levels of English proficiency than you would in normal conversation with proficient speakers but maintain a steady pace.
• Speak clearly, but do not over-enunciate to the point where the words sound unnatural.
• Speak at a normal volume. Shouting does not make English more comprehensible.
• Use simple sentence structure with students at beginning levels of English proficiency (e.g., subject-verb-object).
• Avoid long, complex sentences with embedded clauses.
• As students make progress, increase the complexity of the vocabulary and syntax appropriate to their English language proficiency.
• Emphasize key vocabulary through frequent repetition of these new words throughout the week and across subject areas.
• Avoid idioms unless they are explained or were previously taught.
• Avoid cultural references that may be unfamiliar to students unless they are explained.
• Use gestures, facial expressions, and other visuals.
• Repeat, paraphrase, or use other recast techniques when students do not understand.

Try these tips to help support the language development and learning of multilingual students. And for a comprehensive text on ELL education, order the forthcoming new edition of Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners, the book behind today’s blog post.

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