ESL Literacy

It is important for all students to become literate, but it is especially important for students learning a second language.  Most vocabulary is learned from reading.  I know that from personal experience. I expanded my vocabulary as a teenager through my study of poems such as 'The Raven.'  Currently, while listening to French music and getting curious enough to explore the lyrics, I pick up more words for my vocabulary than I do through any other source.

Oftentimes these ESL students come to us with little or no background in literacy from their home languages.  Skills learned in the native language will be transferred over to the new languages as well.  It is important for them to learn to read and write in their home language and then in their new language, English.  It will be easier for students to develop literacy in their native language, and that literacy will give them the tools to become literate in English.

To promote literacy in ESL students, the teacher must do everything he can to make the literature easy, fun, and accessible.  First the teacher must choose the correct text for the students.  Literature must be comprehensible and it also must be compelling.  The student needs to want to read the text.  Boring texts, texts with no interest level whatsoever for the students, texts that are beyond their capabilities will all impede their desire to begin reading.  The teacher must choose texts that are easy enough to understand, but just a bit beyond their current capabilities.  This will promote learning more rather than plateauing.  The language should be accessible, and if possible, have supports such as metacognitive aides (things that help put learning in perspective, such as discussion questions, texts that draw on prior knowledge, graphics, etc.) and pictures.

Once texts have been found, the teacher must foster interest in reading for the students.  There are many methods for involving students in literacy, both in the classroom and for life.  Choral reading, dramatization of texts, and learning song lyrics are classroom activities that the teacher can use to make reading fun and entertaining.  The more exposure the students get to literacy in a relaxed and engaging setting, the more likely they will be to continue reading when they are out of the classroom.