Introduction

At the beginning of each academic year, teachers all throughout the country welcome new pupils into their classrooms. Might you picture the additional worry and anxiety that comes with being an English language (ELL) or multilingual learner (MLL)? Being a new student in your first year can be stressful. Teachers that are new to working with ELLs/MLLs struggle with the issue of how to effectively support their newcomer pupils both linguistically and culturally while also presenting content that is meaningful.

The greatest method to encourage students and assist them in acclimating to our new school culture is to start by recognizing their own abilities.

1. GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION

Beginnings are important. Learn the names and nicknames of the students. To discover the names of the pupils, play name games or use icebreakers. Before you start, make sure to demonstrate how to follow the instructions to the class.

An easy method to welcome new pupils is with a grin and a polite hello. A smile is a worldwide language that demonstrates your support for your students. It’s one method to greet them and ask them to feel comfortable and prepared to learn.

2. CULTIVATE A SUPPORTIVE AND CARING ENVIRONMENT

The use of signage was a simple means of assisting pupils with classroom language. Students can learn the English language through images and actual objects by using posters with sentence stems and labels for school materials.

Routines that are predictable and clear in the classroom also make expectations clear to newcomers. Predictable classroom procedures encourage kids to feel secure, whether they are introduced orally or by modelling. By carefully preparing the physical space and materials in the classroom to make it easier for new students to adjust to school, one can foster a loving environment.

3. APPLY SUITABLE LANGUAGE STRATEGIES FOR NEWCOMERS

One of the Best strategies for students to build their vocabulary, practice pronunciation, and strengthen the use of their receptive and expressive language skills.

Choral repetition: Using this method, the teacher demonstrates how to read with fluency, tempo, and pronunciation. It offers a comfortable, low-risk setting where newcomers can take part in whole-class reading with little to no affective filter.

Wait time: It takes some time for newcomers to interpret a question, consider an answer, translate the answer into English, and then verbally respond. Depending on how long or difficult the exercise is, activities containing text-based or inferential questions typically require the use of a timer for seven minutes or longer.

4. HELP STUDENTS TAKE RISKS BY USING TECHNOLOGY

Here is where technology is useful. Many newcomers find speaking or reading aloud uncomfortable. The students liked recording their presentations or responding to questions using Flip, Classkick, and Book Creator. While presentation creation and recording have become simpler thanks to technology programs, newbies could require more time to complete their tasks and presentations. A tech-friendly setting might encourage language learners to take chances in a way that feels natural to them. Clock buddies or map buddies is a buddy system where students are paired up to support newcomers by interpreting for teachers or helping them to adjust to their new school environment, with the goal of fostering collaboration and communication. Students can look up a word’s definition, pronunciation, and image in online dictionaries, visual dictionaries, and translators. Using Quizlet, students can also produce their own glossaries.