Reading Vocabulary for Middle School English Learners



Reading Vocabulary for Middle School English Learners

Introduction

It is a common observation that the English language learners do not acquire the breadth and depth of the vocabulary through the exposure that they have to the text. This exposure is not enough to make the English language learners comprehend the English that they read and listen, as well as, make use of it in the content areas to make active discussions in the classrooms. The teachers need to make certain strategies that can be helpful for the learners of the English language to increase their vocabulary skills, as well as, make effective use of them in the discussions, as well as, writings. The English language learners face this situation of not being able to grasp the vocabulary especially the middle school English language learners. Since they are young children, it is difficult for them to use difficult vocabulary in the activities that they do. It, therefore, becomes necessary that certain strategies are devised that help the English language learners in acquiring the needed vocabulary skills and make effective use of it in the best possible ways (www.phschool.com). Bi-literacy is a difficult thing to manage, however, at the same time, it is very interesting of the right strategies are devised, planned and practiced so that the language can be understood and practiced in the best possible way. The middle levels, as well as, the high school level English language learners are very good in interpersonal skills, as well as, in interpersonal communication. This is one of the reasons that mask their ability to attain the academic, as well as, literary proficiency in the content areas. This issue, as well as, many other issues related to this need to be addressed so that the English language learners at the middle school level can make use of vocabulary as effectively as possible.

Discussion

The Challenges and Benefits of Bi-Literacy

There is a variety of unique characteristics of the English language learners. The teachers need to make sure that they consider these characteristics when they are setting instructions for these English language learners. The students come to schools with different backgrounds, as well as, having different levels of proficiencies of the first language. This makes it clear that the level of teaching and the instructions that need to be given to them also vary. Each student is different from the other and so are his literary needs and levels (www.phschool.com). Before the teacher can devise strategies for the students, it is necessary that the level of language proficiency of each student is known to the teacher. This is going to be the guiding principle in all the future strategies that will be employed in the strategies of the teachers.

It also needs to be noted that when the teacher is in the process of assessing the language proficiency of the English language learners, the students who might sound fluent in the language may not actually be that good in the ...