Remote instruction is a particular challenge for emergent bilingual students or English learners (ELs). Many of the language supports and resources that emergent bilingual students rely on in the classroom are as accessible, including physical responses, word walls, gestures, and turning to a partner. Face-to-face interactions are critical for these students. It has been recognized that emergent bilingual students learn a language when they engage in conversations. Not only do live interactions build critical relationships, but they also support social and emotional development, student engagement, and ultimately student achievement.

Maintaining a robust curriculum for emergent bilingual students during remote instruction is difficult but utilizing high-interest texts is important. Students can see themselves and others in authentic texts that show cultural diversity. Teachers can also promote high engagement by building on the students’ interests with engaging visual and auditory resources.

Evidence-based Practices for Remote Learning

The following recommendations support teachers to refocus successful strategies in teaching emergent bilingual students in the classroom, modify evidence-based practices to online learning, and reimagine a system where ELs can demonstrate success.

  • For students to continue to thrive during remote learning, requires rigorous and age-appropriate assignments that utilize compelling and interesting content. Teachers should use scaffolding strategically – without removing the struggle needed to build capacity. Emergent bilingual students will be engaged if they learn through quality, complex lessons.
  • Emergent bilingual students need to learn how English works through the development of phonemic awareness, vocabulary, and sentence structure. Phonics instruction is also critical to build decoding skills. To the extent possible, incorporate visual and auditory resources when offering tailored and personalized support for each student.
  • Language develops within the context of building knowledge about something. Provide activities that build academic language connected to the content. Practice new vocabulary within a range of content areas. To maximize engagement, have students participate in academic literacy activities that positively reflect their heritage cultures and build intellectual capacity.
  • Strong relationships between school and home help strengthen students’ learning. We must develop trusting relationships with families and support social-emotional learning needs as we celebrate students and create a positive learning community.

Read the full article about remote learning for bilingual students by José Viana at Getting Smart.