ELD Learning

How can I best educate?

Visual, Audit, Tactile/Kinetic?

ELD & The Natural Approach

ELD is an acronym for English Language Development. ELD is the systematic use of instructional strategies designed to promote the acquisition of English by students whose primary language is not English. According to Dr. Stephen Krashen, an expert in the study of second language acquisition and the co-author of The Natural Approach, the best way to learn a second language is through total immersion. ELD strategies support this learning method, enabling students to acquire English language in a manner similar to the way they learned their native language, naturally and through regular interaction with others who already know the language.

In the natural process of language acquisition, students first develop basic communication skills in English. The focus is on fluency and learning to speak English in a social context with native speakers, which is why heterogeneous cooperative grouping is so important to the Natural Approach. According to Krashen, this method allows for effortless acquisition.

 

ELD focuses on four skill areas:

1. Function: Functions are the purposes of communication. This includes social conversations, jokes, and inquiry.
2. Form: This refers to the structure of the English language such as grammar, sentence structure, and syntax. These are used as building blocks.
3. Fluency: Fluency is the ease in speaking the language. English language learners need ample amount of time just practicing speaking English in order to become fluent.
4. Vocabulary: The development of a wide and varied vocabulary is essential. Research shows that English language learners should be taught key vocabulary, or brick words, prior to a lesson in order to assist them in their language development. For example, whatever concept you are teaching, it is recommended that you include vocabulary words that will make the content more comprehensible to the learner. A key ELD strategy is to provide comprehensible input for the English language learner by the use of visuals, realia, and gestures.