Hello! I’m Lucy, the creator of Lucy Teaches English, the TPT store that provides ESL / TESOL educators with resources to support native Spanish speakers in their classes.
99% of my students are upper elementary and middle school native Spanish speakers. Many can speak English confidently but find reading and writing challenging; others can read and understand English reasonably well but are still not ready to talk that much. Some do not know a single word of English, whereas others are so fluent in all areas of English that I wish I could send them off to high school already!
When so many levels of learners are all in one group, things start to get tricky.
Early on, I realized I would need to find resources to help students practice grade-appropriate English language concepts with Spanish-language support. However, the only ESL resources I could find were in English only and, more often than not, made for kindergarten or lower elementary students.
Immersion is often said to be the most effective approach to mastering a new language. I’ve even heard of some teachers hanging a sign on their wall proclaiming ‘NO SPANISH ALLOWED.’
But this does not sit well with me. If someone were to tell me I am not ‘allowed’ to speak my native language, it would make me feel uncomfortable.
Some students can dive in and pick things up quickly through exposure and repetition, whereas others need a different approach. Providing Spanish-language explanations of English-language concepts ensures all my learners feel included, regardless of their abilities.
Lucy Teaches English resources actually teach and demonstrate through examples rather than simply translating. Every activity or assignment requires the student to apply some element of English. The resources support, explain, and encourage independent use of English, while respecting the student’s native language and burgeoning bilingualism.
The best part is that using your students’ native language means you’re not smothering part of their identity by telling them they can’t use Spanish. Instead, you’re cultivating inclusion, building their confidence, and showing empathy for their language learning journey.
I hope you find value here and will consider stopping by again soon.
Thanks for reading!
Comments are closed.