Chapter 8 Teaching Teenagers Who Are Still Learning English

“Teach us to take risks in our new language.” Pg 153 Students whose first language is not English need to be able to test the language out, and then be helped to fix it. The reason why some seem shy and do not speak in class is not because they actually but instead could be that they are afraid of making a mistake. The two students who spoke in this section, one took a chance and learned something and the other did not.

Creating an open classroom environment in which students are allowed to make mistakes can help ESL students fit in and try out their new language. The only way to learn a language is to use and misuse it. In a foreign language class students are not silent, for ESL students the entire school is their foreign language class. Creating a classroom environment that they feel safe in will not only improve their language but allows them to be more comfortable around their peers. This type of environment won’t just help ESL students but all the students in class.