Drawing Helps English Language Learners Speak Up
Drawing helps English language learners understand, remember and share ideas before their English catches up. Strategies for teachers and parents.
Drawing helps English language learners because pictures carry meaning while vocabulary is still developing. Students can show what they understand, label drawings to learn new words and join classroom activities with confidence, even with limited English.
For children learning English, the classroom can feel overwhelming. Drawing gives them a way to participate, communicate and learn.
How drawing helps ELLs
- Comprehension. Drawing what they hear shows understanding.
- Vocabulary. Labeling drawings builds words.
- Participation. Everyone can draw, regardless of language.
- Confidence. Success in drawing builds willingness to try English.
- Communication. Pictures bridge the gap with teachers and classmates.
Vocabulary through food characters
Food is everyday vocabulary that ELLs need quickly. How to Draw: Food Monsters makes food words memorable. Students draw a silly food character, label it ("muffin", "noodles", "ketchup") and describe it with simple adjectives: "The pickle is green and happy."
Strategies for teachers
- Draw and label. Students draw a scene and label objects.
- Picture dictionaries. Students create their own drawn word books.
- Sentence frames. "This is a ___. It is ___."
- Pair drawing. Partners describe drawings to each other.
- Draw the story. After a read-aloud, draw the main event.
At home
Parents can draw with children and say words in both languages. Bilingual labeling is a great way to build both languages.
Patience
Language learning takes time. Drawing keeps children engaged and learning while their English grows. For more, see drawing builds vocabulary.
Questions parents ask
How does drawing help English language learners?
Drawing lets ELLs show understanding, learn vocabulary through labeling and participate with confidence while their English develops.
What drawing activities help ELL students?
Draw and label, picture dictionaries, pair drawing with sentence frames and drawing stories after read-alouds.
Can drawing help with learning a second language at home?
Yes. Drawing and labeling in both languages builds vocabulary and keeps learning fun.
More in teachers and classrooms, or browse all 217 posts on the blog.
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