Overcome language learning barriers using classroom management platforms and other tools
Contributed by Al Kingsley, CEO of NetSupport
Teaching a language, whether it’s an ESL student or a student learning something new like French or Spanish, requires much the same teaching skills as any other subject.
But in some important ways, barriers to understanding make the challenge even greater, especially for ESL students. Similar to the barriers that all students may face, students reach a plateau in their language learning when they lose focus, become unmotivated, become distracted, and, perhaps most noticeably, by a lack of self-confidence. blocked.
Edtech can help. There are many more products, some specifically aimed at language teaching, some more general, but when considered from a language learning perspective, they offer surprising benefits. So, let’s take a look at the most common challenges that language learners face and the surprising ways that edtech can overcome them. These tips include new ways to use your classroom management platform in ways you may not be aware of.
Challenge 1: Focus
There are only a handful of classes with 30 students. Teaching is easy when all students are relatively similar in skill, but the challenge doubles when you add in ESL students and students below or above grade level. As a member of my county’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Committee, I am proud to say that I am a teacher, especially since every teacher I have ever met is deeply committed to meeting the individual needs of each student. I am acutely aware of the impact this has on me every day.
ESL students in particular need learning tools that match their skill level. Teachers usually know exactly what resources each student needs, but in some cases all 30 students may need different resources or at different levels. Instruction time can be reduced if all students are on track and engaged. Perhaps a classroom management solution is the best resource for this particular problem. This allows you to launch learning apps directly on your students’ desktops without leaving your desktop. You can also send websites and documents to students and monitor how much time they spend on sites or specific learning apps without leaving your desk.
Challenge 2: Motivation
Intrinsic motivation is what we aim for, in other words, to lead students to feel ownership and pride in their work. So teachers are great cheerleaders and we don’t want technology to get in the way. Rather, see it as a tool to encourage and push them.
For ESL students, developing a presentation about their home country, food, or something unique to their culture is a chance for students to show off what they know. Many edtech tools are great for this kind of creativity. Consider using a comics program like Pixton or a digital whiteboard like Creatly to storyboard your presentation. Book Creator is another tool for presenting information. Each of these tools fosters creative expression and agency.
Your classroom management platform will likely also have a digital whiteboard, so don’t forget to check that out. Teachers can type directly into student devices or use it for whole-class instruction. Of course, students can also use it as a scratchboard or storyboard tool.
Challenge 3: Distractions
Few people like to talk about distractions. Because it seems impossible to bring it under control. Distractions can come from other students, phones, noise outside the window, and the very technology that is placed in front of the student. Teachers are good at time management, but even veteran teachers agree that keeping students on task is difficult.
For language learners, an inability to stay on task is often a sign of a more serious problem, such as not fully understanding the instructions in the first place. These students need more direct contact with their teachers to stay on task, so using a classroom management platform like NetSupport School can greatly reduce the disruption of these nudges and redirects. . From the app on your desktop, you can also see what students are doing and what they’re doing, and even shut down student windows and apps that aren’t working properly.
This same tactic also helps students learning foreign languages such as French, Spanish, and German. The same classroom management app allows teachers to monitor how long students are working on assigned material. Being too long may actually be unintentional. The student may simply be having trouble understanding, but the teacher can quickly recognize and resolve it. Give additional instructions to individual students or groups using chat, audio, or video recording. Students can then repeat or slow down the instructions to increase comprehension.
Challenge #4: Confidence
Low self-esteem and low self-confidence are not the same thing, but they tend to go together. I know many students (and adults) who have strong self-esteem and lack the confidence to do new things in unfamiliar situations. It’s amazing how many people don’t realize what’s actually behind why they get stuck or stuck. Teachers, on the other hand, have an uncanny ability to understand why students aren’t trying.
The old-fashioned approach of simply offering a few words of encouragement can be effective, and this is where the right edtech can be a real asset. Providing students with a place to take chances and remain anonymous may be the main reason I love quiz tools like Kahoot! And Giotto form. Educators are familiar with Kahoot!, but they probably don’t know about Jotform, which is free for limited use. Regardless of the tool you choose, whether it’s included in your classroom management platform or just managed from within your classroom management platform using an external tool, try using surveys and question boards.
However, working one-on-one with students may be the most effective way to overcome confidence issues. NetSupport’s tools are particularly useful in this case. NetSupport School actually includes a Languages Lab feature that connects teachers more closely for audio monitoring. In addition to seeing what’s happening at students’ desks, indicators show whether each student is listening or speaking into the microphone. Teachers can listen to individual student progress there and record anything for students to refer to later.
All these proposals have a common theme. It’s about leveraging technology to do more, while being more personal and private. Few teachers have enough time to attend to the needs of all individuals without having to identify individuals who need support. That’s why tools that allow teachers to provide assistance without other students knowing are so valuable. This is a way to help students who are struggling with a new language feel more respected and supported.
Al Kingsley is the CEO of NetSupport. He is an author, chairman of the UK Multi Academy Trust School Cluster, an Apprenticeship Ambassador and chair of the local Special Educational Needs and Disability Committee. A 30-year veteran in the field, he has written books on educational technology, school governance, and school growth.
