What is the best approach for helping ELLs develop academic language while learning new content?

Providing opportunities to listen, speak, read, and write about the content is the most effective approach for helping English Language Learners (ELLs) develop academic language alongside learning new material. This strategy engages multiple facets of language development and allows students to interact with the content in varied ways, which is critical for cognitive and language acquisition.

By incorporating listening, speaking, reading, and writing, students can process information actively and apply what they have learned in practical contexts. Engaging in discussions helps them articulate their thoughts, ask questions, and collaborate with peers, which enhances both their language skills and content understanding. Reading provides exposure to academic vocabulary and structures, while writing allows them to practice organizing their thoughts and demonstrating knowledge.

This multifaceted approach is vastly superior to focusing solely on traditional book work or relying exclusively on oral presentations, as those methods limit the range of language practice and may not support all learners' needs effectively. Moreover, simply assigning textbooks without additional resources may deprive students of the interactive and supportive elements they need to fully grasp both language and content.