Teaching English as an additional language can be extremely rewarding, often because the students often bring a rich diversity of culture to the classroom.
But the wealth of experience that students bring is more than just interesting, it can also be used in their learning.
Whilst previous English teaching methods sometimes involved restricting use of a student's first language, the tide has definitely changed.
that maintaining a strong first language can help students acquire and learn a second language more successfully. So rather than hindering a student's ability to learn English, a student's home language can be a teacher's most valuable resource.
Here are seven ways to support students in keeping their first language while learning English:
1. Encourage the use of home language in the classroom
Allow your linguistically diverse learners to speak their home language by creating a supportive environment that values this strength.
You may set up a ‘buddies’ system where you partner up or group students who speak the same language and encourage them to use their first language when completing tasks. This can help students feel more comfortable and confident in the learning environment, and also strengthen their language skills.
Source: SBS
2. Provide bilingual resources
Provide bilingual resources such as books, videos, and online resources that are available in both English and the student's first language when learning new topics or developing concepts through units of work.
This helps students to see the connections between the two languages and understand how they can use their existing language skills to learn English more effectively. Bilingual resources can also be used as a tool to build vocabulary in both languages.
has a wide range of free resources in multiple languages. For example, the videos are available in 5 languages.
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3. Celebrate cultural diversity
Incorporate multicultural themes that reflect your students’ backgrounds into lessons to celebrate cultural diversity.
This can help students feel more included and valued in the classroom, promote cross-cultural understanding, and help them see the connections between their first language and culture and English.
Celebrating cultural diversity can also help students to develop empathy and understanding for people from different backgrounds.
4. Foster talk, and more talk
If they can articulate it, they can write it.
You might find that there’s lack of depth in their level of understanding of concepts because they haven’t been given enough time to listen and speak about the topic in the English language.
Students need to learn that each subject area has its own literacies, ie they are being scientists when learning about science, historians for history, mathematicians in mathematics and so on. Teachers can foster talk by modelling and facilitating discussions. Try to extend talk by asking questions such as:
What made you say that?
“How do you know this?”, “Can you expand on that?” or "Does anyone have anything to add to what was said?".
Students from Melbourne Polytechnic doing group work Credit: SBS
5. Using a first language to brainstorm before writing tasks
Before students begin writing in English whether it be a simple sentence, paragraph or essay, encourage your students to brainstorm the topic by writing down their ideas in their L1.
This can be done collaboratively with another student or students. The groups can then discuss how to translate their ideas into English and start writing.
6. Switch on subtitling when watching movies, TV shows
Encourage students to switch on subtitles in English when they are watching their favourite movies or TV programs.
Conversely, they can switch on subtitles in their L1 when watching movies and TV shows in English. In this way, they can start to make connections between words in their own language and English. When students gain more confidence, they can watch English content with English subtitles.
Selecting a language preference on SBS On Demand
7. Bilingual success stories
Profile people – celebrities and everyday – who have successfully acquired English while maintaining and using their L1s. Invite these individuals to visit the classroom to give tips to the students either in person or via a video link.
Supporting students in keeping their first language is important for their overall wellbeing and academic success. The strategies listed can help students maintain their mother tongue, and ultimately become effective users of the English language so they can have the best of both worlds.
Cindy Valdez is the President of the and an EAL/D Education Leader with the NSW Department of Education.
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