8 Strategies to Build Confidence
in ESL Students
By Linda D’Argenio
In her article on building confidence in multilingual learners, D’Argenio first describes the cause of language-learning anxiety as a lack of ability in communication.
Students may react by
- Not being able to respond to questions
- Missing class or trying to avoid speaking in class
- Over-preparing for their lessons
Some of the reasons that she lists for this lack of confidence are:
- being required to learn content in a language they are still learning
- low family income, which can affect their performance in school
- the high stakes situation of having to master English to succeed academically
The results of language-learning anxiety are avoiding communication and an inability to comprehend speech and text or demonstrate what they know.
D’Argenio offers eight suggestions that teachers can use to build students’ confidence.
- “Identify the cause of student anxiety and create an unthreatening environment.” Teachers might ask students to talk about what makes them anxious.
- “Emphasize collaboration among students” which can increase involvement in class.
- “Make it personal” Ask students to share information about their families, pets, or similar topics.
- “Address individual needs” Provide lessons geared towards students’ interests and learning styles.
- “Establish routines” Knowing what will happen reduces anxiety.
- “Use authentic materials that appeal to your student’s interests” when students are engaged in a topic, they may participate with more confidence. Realia is one option linked in this article. (See below)
- “Avoid correcting students every step of the way” Too much correction increases anxiety.
- “Use TPRS strategies proven to minimize student anxiety” TPRS (Teaching Proficiency Through Reading and Storytelling). What is involved in this is an emphasis on communication, content that relates to students’ lives, and “content that is repetitive, interesting, comprehensible, and high-frequency (RICH)”