ELL Students
I try to encourage activities that include groups that are focused on discussing vocabulary terms, applications and definitions. Students have an opportunity to utilize the new terms and increase their comfort zone. I also recite the vocabulary terms and have the entire class repeat it after me. They enjoy it more when we play games with voice fluctuations.
I have found that these students have trouble with subtleties. Try to avoid them - use broad meanings
I agree that this is an excellent idea. I have placed students in groups for other activites but never specifically for them to focus on vocabulary terms. I will say that as I have witnessed and heard about students dropping courses because of the language barrier, I have been considering taking foreign language classes that will help me communicate better with the students. I will also say that it can be emotional for me to see someone who genuinely wants a better life/future but may not be able to grasp the information because of the language barrier. I will definitely refer back to this module and implement the Strategies for Success when dealing with ELL students in the future.
Fatemeh,
this is a great strategy as, I'm guessing, the vocab is one of the things that the students struggle with the most.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
