Classroom Practices That Accelerate Language Acquisition for ESL Students

By Angela

“We acquire language in only one way, when we understand messages, that is when we obtain “comprehensible input.”  Thus, we acquire when we understand what people tell us or what we read, when we are absorbed in the message.” 

Krashen’s research and writing highlighted the need for teachers to create comprehensible input in their classrooms. To that end, comprehensible input practices can be categorized into three types: visual, graphic and linguistic.
Visual supports include meaningful, relevant pictures, icons, symbols, videos.

Graphic supports include all forms of graphic organizers.  In social studies, historical figures can be divided by which side of the war they supported (e.g. Allies or Axis in World War II).

Linguistic supports Small group andpair work can be considered a linguistic support because it provides the ELL with a non-threatening situation to ask for clarification on a word or phrase he may not understand.  Peer-to-peer learning is well documented as an effective learning tool.

Review your lesson plans for these 3 types of supports for English Language Learners - no matter which content subject you teach. Keep it comprehensible. As you complete your lesson plans, be sure to include visual, graphic, and/or linguistic supports.