How can Mr. Herrera best assist Ahmed, an English language learner, in understanding social studies content?

Using images to help clarify meaning is an effective strategy for assisting Ahmed, an English language learner, in understanding social studies content. Visual aids, such as photographs, diagrams, charts, and maps, serve to support and enhance comprehension by providing context that words alone might not convey. Images can bridge the gap between language barriers and conceptual understanding, making it easier for Ahmed to relate new information to what he already knows. This multimodal approach to learning is particularly beneficial for English language learners who may struggle with text-heavy materials and need additional support to grasp complex ideas.

In contrast, encouraging Ahmed to memorize vocabulary terms might not provide the understanding necessary for deeper content comprehension, as memorization without context can lead to surface-level knowledge. Providing only written instructions in English could limit his ability to grasp the content fully, especially if he struggles with reading the language. Similarly, using complex sentence structures may confuse him further, as it can be challenging for language learners to decode and understand intricate grammar and syntax when they are still acquiring foundational language skills.