With multilingualism on the rise in schools, you might be wondering: What are ELLs, and what do they need to thrive? These English Language Learners are tackling the challenge of picking up a new language while keeping up with grade-level academics. It’s a lot, but with the right support, they can succeed.

Read on to see what ELLs bring to your classroom and how you can meet them with strategies that work. Or explore the myViewBoard digital whiteboard, featuring built-in language support tools.

Who Are ELLs? Understanding English Language Learners Today

If you’re teaching in a K–12 classroom, you’re likely working with students who speak one language at home, such as Spanish, Arabic, or Mandarin, while developing their English skills at school. These students are often called English Language Learners, or ELLs.

The term is widely used because it’s clear and familiar. It focuses on a core need—learning English—without defining students by what they lack or reducing them to a single identity. Still, it doesn’t tell the whole story. ELLs often bring rich language skills, cultural knowledge, and unique experiences that extend well beyond English development.

Wondering how many students fall into this group? Let’s break it down.

Fast Facts: ELLs in U.S. Schools

• 10.6% of public school students (5.3 million students) in the U.S. were classified as English learners in 2021, up from 4.6 million in 2011.
• Texas (20.2%), California (18.9%), and New Mexico (18.8%) had the highest percentages of ELLs.
• 93.1% of ELLs received services through an English language instructional program (LIEP) in 2021.

• Urban areas serve the highest percentage of ELLs (9.8%), compared to rural areas (4.8%).

Source: English Learners in Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics

What’s clear? ELLs are a growing, multilingual presence in classrooms across the country, and with the right support, they can thrive. But with this diversity comes a mix of terms, each carrying its own implications.

Other Labels You’ll Hear (And What They Mean)

While “ELL” is the most common term, you might also come across others, each with its own angle:

• ESL (English as a Second Language): Refers to the instructional program, not the student. Assumes English is the second language, which isn’t always accurate.
• LEP (Limited English Proficient): Still used in policy but largely phased out due to its deficit-based framing.
• Multilingual Learners: Emphasizes the languages students already speak as strengths and is often used in place of ELL.
• Emergent Bilinguals: Describes students learning English while maintaining their home language.

Different names point to different perspectives, but they all describe students learning academic content while also acquiring a new language. And what they bring to the classroom matters just as much as what they need.

What ELLs Bring to the Classroom

It’s easy to focus on what ELLs need, like scaffolds, visuals, and extra language support. But it’s equally important to recognize what they contribute.

These students are managing multiple languages while navigating new academic systems. That mental agility is a strength that adds a lot to your classroom:

• Multilingual thinking that sharpens focus and fuels creative problem-solving
• Cultural perspectives that bring depth and fresh insight to class discussions
• Empathy for classmates who struggle, because they know what it feels like

You might see it when a student connects a history lesson to their family’s story or helps a peer with math in their home language. These are the kinds of contributions that build a stronger, more connected classroom.

When you start by recognizing those strengths, it’s easier to offer the right support so that ELLs can grow.

Common Challenges Faced by English Language Learners

Even with rich strengths, ELLs often face barriers when instruction or tools don’t meet their needs.

1. Learning Through a Language They’re Still Learning

Imagine trying to follow a science or history lesson while translating in your head. Fast speech, tricky idioms, and subject-specific vocab make this even tougher. The result? Students expend extra mental effort just to keep up.

2. Tech That Doesn’t Speak Their Language

EdTech can be a great support—when it’s designed with language learners in mind. But too often, platforms assume fluency in English. Many older ELLs find beginner-level platforms too babyish, which can be boring or even embarrassing.

And while translation tools exist, they’re not much help for students who aren’t yet literate in their first language. Without visuals, clear directions, or language-friendly design, EdTech can easily turn into one more barrier instead of a bridge.

3. Feeling Disconnected

Language barriers can also affect how students and their families engage with school. When materials overlook students’ backgrounds or teachers assume shared cultural knowledge—like familiarity with U.S. history—ELLs can feel excluded. And when families can’t communicate easily with the school, that disconnect deepens. Over time, students may pull back and hesitate to speak up, unsure of how or where they fit in.

The good news? There are clear opportunities to support ELLs in ways that stick.

7 Strategies to Support English Language Learners

Now that we’ve unpacked the challenges, let’s talk solutions. Supporting ELLs doesn’t mean lowering the bar. It means removing the friction in their learning journey and setting them up for real success, using tools and teaching methods that meet them where they are.

Let’s start with what matters most: your lessons.

1. Plan Lessons That Work for All Learners

You don’t need to scrap your whole lesson plan to support English learners. It’s more about being thoughtful with how you teach and how students can connect with the content.

A good starting point? Set two goals for each lesson:

• What’s the content objective? (e.g., “Students will explain the water cycle.”)
• What’s the language objective? (e.g., “Students will describe steps using sequence words like first, next, and finally.”)

Next, ask yourself: How will this student access the lesson?

Think about what background knowledge they might need, and how you’ll support them. Maybe that means previewing key vocabulary, adding a diagram, or offering sentence starters. Small tweaks—like giving them a partner to talk with, providing a word bank, or offering the option to draw instead of write—can all be built into your lesson plan, ready to go when they are.

2. Deliver Instruction for Greater Language Access

Even the most well-planned lesson can fall flat if the delivery doesn’t support understanding. For English learners, how you say something matters just as much as what you say.

Start by checking your “teacher talk.” Slow it down, keep directions clear, and cut the fluff—those extra idioms and filler words can trip students up. You don’t have to change who you are, but be ready to rephrase when needed.

Then try these tweaks:

• Back up your explanations with visuals, gestures, or real-life examples to give students more ways to latch onto the concept.
• Use quick checks, like thumbs up/down and yes/no questions, to catch confusion early.
• Share a quick outline of your slides ahead of time to lower the pressure.

And no matter what, create a classroom where mistakes are normal. ELLs (and everyone else) grow when they feel safe enough to take a risk.

3. Build a Culturally Responsive Classroom

You don’t need to overhaul your curriculum to help ELLs feel at home, but a few intentional tweaks to make your classroom more culturally responsive can send a powerful message: you’re welcome here.

• Start with personal touches: Greet students by name, pronounce those names correctly, and sprinkle in a word or two from their home language. These simple gestures build trust quickly.
• Reflect their world in your space: Check that your visuals, books, and lesson examples represent the cultures and backgrounds of your students. Even small updates can help students feel more seen.
• Invite students to share their culture: Encourage them to bring in a holiday tradition, family phrase, or cultural story. These connections can help learning feel more relevant and personal.
  Find more ideas for making your classroom more culturally responsive in our article.

When students feel valued, they’re more willing to participate, take risks, and grow. And once that sense of belonging is there, it’s easier to offer the scaffolds that help them stretch further.

4. Scaffold the Path to Independence

Supporting ELLs doesn’t mean lowering the bar. It means building better stairs to reach it.  That’s where scaffolding comes in: short-term supports that help students tackle challenging tasks until they’re ready to fly solo.

Here’s how to scaffold with intention:

• Set them up before they dive in: Use sentence frames, word banks, or graphic organizers to help students organize their thinking without watering down the content.
• Model what you want to see: Don’t just say, “analyze the character’s motivation.” Think it through out loud, jot ideas on the board, or show a solid example first.
• Pull back as they build confidence: Swap out frames for word banks, then nudge them toward doing it on their own.

Along the way, sprinkle in bilingual tools like translated texts or simple glossaries to help students make connections faster. Done right, scaffolds build confidence, not dependence.

And one more way to support that independence? Make your instruction multi-modal.

5. Make Learning Multi-Modal

Spoken instructions don’t always land, especially for students still getting the hang of English. When vocabulary is still developing, key ideas can slip right past. That’s where multi-modal learning comes in:

learning environments [that] allow instructional elements to be presented in more than one sensory mode (visual, aural, written)

(Sankey et. al., 2010: 853)

This gives ELLs more ways to take in information, connect ideas, and make learning stick.

Here are some tips to make that happen:

• Make it visual: Have students draw, label, or annotate what they’re learning. Creating visuals helps ELLs reinforce meaning and make abstract ideas more concrete.
• Make it physical: Use base-ten blocks, labeled models, or cut-and-sort activities so students can explore content through action.
• Layer your inputs: When there’s written text, have students read it aloud. When you’re speaking, write key points down. Pair both with visuals and gestures to support retention and clarity.

Digital tools like the myViewBoard digital whiteboard make multi-modal teaching easier. With drag-and-drop visuals, speech-to-text, live captions, and a built-in translation feature, ELLs can follow along and stay engaged without adding extra prep to your plate.

6. Create Real Reasons to Use English

ELLs don’t just need to learn about English; they need regular chances to use it. After all, Language learning sticks best when it’s purposeful, social, and embedded in everyday routines.

Try working these into your daily routine to get more purposeful practice in:

• Incorporate regular writing: Use exit slips, reflection journals, or quick-write prompts to help students process ideas and build written fluency.
• Work in everyday speaking chances: Add turn-and-talks, partner chats, or sentence starters during lessons. These quick exchanges help ELLs get comfortable using English without the pressure.
• Use group work to spark language: Try jigsaws, small projects, or literature circles. Collaborating gives students natural reasons to talk.
  Psst: Want more ways to get students talking? Check out our article on Interactive Presentation Ideas.

Keep the focus on getting ideas out, not getting every word perfect. When students know their voice matters, they’re a whole lot more likely to take risks and grow.

7. Use EdTech to Support Learning

When used thoughtfully, educational technology can help level the playing field for ELLs. For them, the right EdTech breaks down language barriers, reinforces content, and opens up new ways to participate.

So what should you look for?

• Built-in language supports: Features like on-the-spot translation, captions, text-to-speech, and image cues can boost comprehension in real time.
• Adaptability: Platforms that adjust to students’ language levels and allow for differentiated tasks make it easier to meet learners where they are.
• Interactive and gamified features: Features that are hands-on, collaborative, or offer instant feedback keep students engaged and give them more ownership over their learning.

When these elements come together in a single platform—especially one that blends language supports with interactive visuals, like myViewBoard—it becomes easier for ELLs to follow along and stay engaged. It’s a simple way to lower language barriers and keep everyone connected, whether they’re learning in person or remotely.

Final Thoughts: Start Small, Stay Intentional

Supporting English Language Learners doesn’t mean reworking everything you do. Instead, it starts with a mindset shift and a few focused strategies. Start by planning with both language and content in mind. Add visuals, offer scaffolds, and build trust through culturally responsive practices. And when the right tech tools can help, use them.

And remember: ELLs aren’t behind. They’re learning in more than one language, and that’s a strength. Your choices can help them grow, thrive, and feel seen.

Want to make your lessons more visual and accessible? Check out the myViewBoard digital whiteboarding software, built with ELLs in mind. Or, try this guide to building an inclusive classroom.

Reference List

• Beyond the Label: Multimodal Strategies for Working With Multilingual Learners, Montana English Journal
• Bridging Gaps through Edtech: Supporting Immigrant and English Language Learners, The Learning Agency
• Challenges in English Learner Education, Colorín Colorado
• Common Challenges for English Language Learners, Decoda Literacy Solutions
• ELL Glossary, Colorín Colorado
• Emergent Bilingual, Renaissance Learning, Inc.
• Engaging Students through Multimodal Learning Environments: The Journey Continues, ASCILITE Publications
• English Learners in Public Schools, Institute of Education Sciences
• ESL vs. ELL: What You Need to Know, Post University
• GLOSSARY OF TERMS – ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS DATA, New York State Education Department
• Instructional Challenges ESL Students Face in the Classroom, Graduate Programs for Educators
• Planning a Lesson to Support English Language Learners, Seneca College
• Raising Multilingual Children: The Benefits of Early Language Learning, European Commission
• Supporting English Language Learners, EL Education
• Supporting English Learners through Technology: What Districts and Teachers Say about Digital Learning Resources for English Learners, U.S. Department of Education
• Supportive Language Instruction: 5 Scaffolding Strategies for ELL Students, Continental Press
• The Debate Over English Learner Terminology, Explained, EducationWeek
• The Magic of Multilingualism: Benefits Beyond Communication, University Canada West
• The Power of Multimodal Learning in Charts, Edutopia
• Third Culture Kids, Their Diversity Beliefs and Their Intercultural Competences, ScienceDirect
• What is Culturally Responsive Teaching?, The Education Hub

FAQs: Supporting English Language Learners in Your Classroom