The number of emergent bilingual (EB) students in the US is on the rise. According to the latest data from the National Center for Education Statistics, over 10% of public-school students across the country speak English as a second language. You likely have a few in your own classroom. How do you make sure their educational experience is as rich and meaningful as students who speak English as their first language?
On the CERTIFIED podcast, Anna Zuniga discusses the powerful potential of EB students. Anna, a seasoned educator, shares her insights on ways you can empower EB students in your classroom.
Make time to understand and encourage
Before you can help students progress in their educational journey, you need to understand their past and present experiences. Taking the time to understand the students’ culture and background will allow you to assist them more effectively with classwork. Help them see what they already know, and where you want them to improve.
Anna comments, “These students bring so much to the table but have historically been viewed as having a deficit." It’s time to look past what they don’t know and focus on ways we can see and encourage their progress. Anna emphasizes the importance of recognizing the students' native language skills, while also supplementing these with English language education along the way.
This foundational understanding and consistent encouragement can take more time but yields heavy dividends when students can guide their own learning and feel increased confidence in their skills.
Create a vocabulary-rich environment
You now know your students’ starting point, the foundation that they can build on. From here, it’s important to build their understanding and English skills in a language-rich environment. As Anna states, "The key challenge faced by these students is the lack of vocabulary. It's pretty tough to try to teach these kids high-level words when they're still grappling with basic vocabulary terms."
Anna believes in creating an environment that floods students with high-level language, visuals, and hand gestures. She emphasizes the importance of learning English alongside their regular content, incorporating high-level vocab into conversation and writing. This approach not only helps boost their language skills, but also prepares them for high-stakes tests like the SAT and ACT.
Moreover, Anna advocates for project-based learning, where EB and non-EB students can learn from each other. She notes, "The Emergent Bilingual student will always be learning from that native English speaker. This gives them a chance to build the hard skills required in the project while also building their vocabulary and communication skills."
Leverage industry certifications
As students become more effective communicators, it’s important that they build their resumes and skills, opening them up to future workforce and educational opportunities. For Anna’s students, one of the best ways to do that is industry-based certifications. These certifications provide students with tangible proof of their skills, boosting their confidence and making them more attractive to colleges and employers.
If students seem skeptical, try bringing successful professionals into the classroom to share their experiences and the impact of certifications on their careers. Working with your class alumni or professionals in your community to pay it forward helps students catch the vision of what you’re teaching in the classroom each day.
Overall, Anna’s message is clear: Don't give up on emergent bilingual students. By understanding their unique needs, creating a supportive environment, and empowering them through industry-based certifications, educators can help these students realize their full potential. If you’re interested in learning more about empowering your EB students, Anna shares additional insights on her podcast episode .