Sharing Good Practice
Quick Study Tips for ELL
Learners
By Melissa Monney
O
ne of the biggest challenges
with students is that many
of them do not know how to
study.
Studying has been
demeaned to simply attempting to
memorize information from a book or
class then being able to regurgitate
it when asked. Contrary to popular
belief, the ability to recite information
does not equate to mastery of the
content. In order for learning to really
occur, students must be able to take
the information from the state in which
it was introduced and apply it to other
scenarios. As educators, we must teach
students that studying is the ability to
comprehend the information and the
ability to apply it when needed. Before
one can study, one must know how he/
she studies and the study methods
that work best for them.
CORNELL NOTES
Many educators can agree that
most students do not know how to
take notes. This can be especially
challenging for ELL learners, as they
have a dual task of attempting to
process the language in addition to
comprehending the material in order
to take good notes. I have found the
Cornell note taking method to be an
effective way for ELL learners to take
notes. It is a simple and concise way
to track the information that they
acquire. The goal of Cornell notes is to
consolidate information on one page.
As such, Cornell notes are designed
so the heading guides students in
focusing on the important points of
the lesson, topic or reading. Model to
students how to use the Cornell notes.
Be sure to decipher what is important
information and that “notes” are short
words or phrases and not copying
down everything that is stated or read.
Students should keep track of their
Cornell notes in a notebook for easy
access.
can take a piece of paper and fold the
paper into four sections. Then label
and complete the four sections as
represented in the diagram below.
CLEAR/UNCLEAR WINDOWS
Clear/Unclear windows are a great
way for ELL learners to reflect on their
learning in an engaging manner. This
strategy uses an index card, where the
student folds the card in half; on the
top left side of the card the student
writes “clear” and on the top of the
right side “unclear.” On the clear
window side, students write 3 things
about the topic/reading that are
undoubtedly clear, and on the unclear
window side, they write 2 to 3 things
about the same topic/reading that they
are still unclear or confused about. By
using the things that they wrote in the
unclear window, students can guide
their re-reading/research of those
items for clarity. When the student
re-reads or researches the unclear
information, the approach to reading
may be different, as the student is now
guided in his/her review.
Understanding how one learns is
essential in knowing what study
methods work best for each individual.
Great study skills are key to academic
success. Teaching ELL learners (as well
as other learners) good study skills
could help them acquire a deep love
for the target language.
FOUR SQUARES
Four squares is a method that allows
students to visually represent their
learning. Students can look at the four
squares and can have a good grasp of
the content or reading. The student
Class Time
|
|
May - Jun 2015
| 31