Technological Tools for Assisting Students who are English Language Learners (ELLs) and for each Too, Noting Strategies for Teaching ELLs.

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There are several different ways on how teachers can teach ELL students. This article talks about many ways on how teachers can teach ELL students to write. Writing is an important everyday thing that students will have to do throughout their life. In this article, the author list seven tips for teaching ELL students to write. The seven tips are ELL students use a limited vocabulary, are reluctant to use invented spelling, use inaccurate verb tenses, use chaotic writing structure and grammar, are reluctant to share in peer editing, have difficulty making sense of what sounds right and what does not and have cultural differences which make it difficult to express their thoughts through creative writing. Although, these are many challenges that a teacher may face, an effective teacher will use observations to create writing assignments based on their student's abilities. Effective teachers may demonstrate how writing and reading are related and connected to each other. They may also show how writing and reading are tools for thinking and learning. Effective teachers may also demonstrate how brainstorming, drafting, revising and editing are recursive processes.


In most schools, there are centers that let the ELL students go and read to people who are willing to listen and help the particular student with areas that they need help in and to help them use their vocabulary and grammar correctly. For example, here on campus at FGCU we have the Writing Center, which allows students to walk in and have other students or professors read their papers to check for proper spelling and grammar use. We also have the use of spell check on Microsoft Word. Students can use spell check and see what they missed right away. Although this is a very helpful technology tool, students should not rely on spell check all the time.