"Our Kids": The Role of the Language Specialist (ELL / ESL / EAL / ELD / ENL / ESOL / MLL)

by Sarah B. Ottow

Note: In this blog, we are using the term "ELL teacher" but that can also mean one who works in any of the following programs--ESL, EAL, ELD, ENL, ESOL, MLL, etc.—supporting English Learners, ELLs, MLLs, emergent bilinguals.

Three-word bubbles that read ‘My Kids,’ ‘Our Kids,’ and ‘Your Kids,’ respectively.

We, as ELL teachers, already know how to work well with English learners.  We know what we need to do to help them succeed.  But classroom teachers don't always know what to do and they don't always understand that we can help!  We are there to be a resource and an advocate.  At the end of the day, the questions are: "How do we, ELL specialists, establish strong relationships with general education teachers?  How do we keep focused on a shared mission of supporting ELLs and set everyone up for success within a system that is often setting us up for failure?"

This quote above was spoken by an ELL/MLL teacher during a workshop and planning session I facilitated for an urban district in New England.  This group of teachers was comprised entirely of ELL specialists from across all schools K-12 in the district.  It was our third meeting together. These ELL/MLL specialists came during their free time, after school, until 7:00PM each time to work together to improve their craft.  Talk about dedication!  I saw this dedication with this group of ELL professionals and I have seen it many times before.

As one teacher expressed, I love my kids so much, but they are not always with me; I only see them an hour each day.  So I need to figure out how to better manage how I communicate with the other teachers my kids come in contact with.  I see them shutting down and that scares me. I want them to be successful in every classroom, not just mine.  The job of the ELL specialist, as I will discuss here, is largely one of a change agent who manages relationships, looking for "entry points" into collaboration.  Relationships can be tricky and we are often unprepared for this work.  However, in our quest for equitable schooling for MLLs, we must find ways to collaborate effectively.  Our students deserve it.

ELL/MLL Specialist = Teacher Leader by Default

We know that there is a major opportunity gap for our ELLs given that a vast amount of educators are underprepared to meet their needs.  It is especially concerning when we consider that ELLs are the fastest growing student subgroup across the country comprising almost 10% of the total student population with many district experiencing much higher percentage growth.

For those of us that are language specialists, we find ourselves in the position of being an ambassador for multilingual students, whether we make it happen intentionally or this simply occurs by default.  We often find that other educators who work with language learners don't necessarily have the same skill set we do.  It can be frustrating and alarming. I previously have written about my formative experiences in my language specialist assignment which I call the all-too-ineffective "emergency room" approach.  When we are stressed and see inequities happening to kids, it can be tempting to approach other educators from a perspective that protects our kids or shelters ELLs from other teachers' lack of preparedness. Here is another quote from a teacher I’ve coached:

I want to tell other teachers that these are "my kids" so that they see they have unique assets and needs, so that they see their gifts and their stories that don't always get told or aren't part of the general ed curriculum. I want other teachers to see that ELLs need instruction that is slightly different sometimes in order to learn new language and content. I want them to see that kids aren't dumb and can sense when a teacher doesn't like them or isn't sure how to reach them. I want to help and also protect "my kids". But, at the same time, I don't want to perpetuate an "ELL silo" or accidentally send a message that ELLs are separate and shouldn't be held to the same standards as other non-ELL students.  

Promoting Shared Responsibility

It's important to frame our thinking around the fact that the students we share in a public school are, in fact, "our kids".  We need to remember and communicate that multilingual learners/ELLs are everyone's kids. In order to have true shared responsibility across schools and districts, we need to reframe our thinking--and our language--when we collaborate with other educators of English learners.  In this way, we become teacher leaders, like it or not.

Sometimes I meet ELL/MLL/language teachers who may not want to be in a teacher leadership role, who say, I just want to teach; I don't want to have to deal with ineffective content teachers!  Yet I am so sad for "my kids" when they have to go back to that teacher who simply ignores them. Or I get so frustrated every time I go into that one classroom because I'm treated like a glorified teacher's aide; I just don't know what to do!  I hate to have the kids see my frustration and confusion. Yes, it can be a terrible shock to learn that sometimes ELL students' only "lifeline" is you, the ELL specialist, and you are the one that help change the conditions our students experience at school. You are the change agent that can make one difference at a time.

Advocate vs. Ambassador

Over the years, I’ve shifted my perspective from one of advocate to one of an ambassador. Why?  Well, an advocate can be perceived as a relentless supporter, often very visible, and sometimes harsh.  When I saw myself as an ELL/MLL advocate, especially in my formative years of teaching, I practically wore a sandwich board around me marching around, protesting other teachers' ineffectiveness. Injustices everywhere! Let me tell you--for me, that didn't always work.  (Again, feel free to read my "emergency room" blog to hear my story and lessons learned.) On the other hand, an ambassador is someone who serves as a diplomat to represent a group. If we view ourselves as ambassadors rather than simply advocates, perhaps the way we are perceived will be more open and welcoming in different classrooms and school settings. As we know, perception can be everything. The difference between intent and impact can truly make or break the change we are trying to be in the world.

Strategies for Effective Collaboration

So, where do we start in forging effective relationships as ELL/MLL/language specialists?  First, let's get clear about your role.  language teachers may not always be clear about their job description and other teachers may not be clear about the ELL teacher's job either. It's not surprising that research shows that, in any industry, clarity of one's role has a direct correlation to job satisfaction. Thus, clarifying what the ELL /MLL specialist by communicating your "Can Do's" is a positive first step in establishing strong relationships.  You can do this by sharing a list of things you can do with other teachers--e.g. show how to modify grade level text, redesign classroom assessments, label classroom items in other languages, create student vocabulary notebooks, etc.

Next, examine what is in your "sphere of influence" so you are not wasting your precious energy on what you can't actually change. Understand that we are faced with two different types of issues in our work--situational and systemic. Those issues that aren't directly in our "circle of influence" are typically more systemic--i.e. grading policies, class size, lack of diverse teaching force, etc. Issues that are situational are those we can usually influence, even if it's just moving the issue along one tiny step at a time--i.e. modeling positive body language and social-emotional support for another teacher, providing more authentic assessment opportunities for a content teacher, etc. Get clear about the difference between what's in your circle of influence and what's not so you can focus your energy on the issues that are truly situational. Don't forget, that by addressing situational inequities, one at a time, we can potentially influence systemic issues.

Finally, fine-tune your communication approach. This includes the language we use when interacting with other educators.  It's important to assume good intentions of others even if their impact is off base.  Be sure your own body language, tone and eye contact conveys a sense of shared respect, trust and confidence--confianza--with those you collaborate with.  Remember, we may unintentionally be putting up an affront with how we present ourselves just like with how we approach our students.  It may help to visualize yourself as that "ambassador" who uses his or her role as a diplomatic agent who educates and enacts change. Here is an example coaching session from me to you that may give you some additional guidance, a collaboration with Susan Patterson, MLL Mentor.

Brush up on what it takes to have an effective collaborative conversation and ground yourself in the research of "what works".  In my book The Language Lens for Content Classrooms, I share a practical overview of planning, teaching and assessing skills for both content and language teachers. This resource is designed to help refresh your research-based strategies and provide some "entry point" ideas for collaborating with content teachers.  I refer to this handbook a lot in my work and encourage ELL/MLL specialists to as well. I also highly recommend practicing critical conversations by role playing to better prepare yourself for tricky situations. If you and I are working directly together through Confianza professional learning services, we will be doing this if we haven’t already!

Change management and relationships can be tricky!  We have to work hard and work efficiently, tailoring our approach for each person we come in contact with. Unfortunately, there is no one right way to work effectively with others, no "silver bullet" or "magic dust".  As one teacher recently told me, Classroom teachers tell me, "Do your magic!" like I have some kind of fairy dust that magically accelerates English for my kids.  I say back kindly, "There is no dust.  There is no magic. I work hard every day and our students do, too."

About the Author: Sarah B. Ottow is an author, coach and eduprenuer who believes strongly in the words of bell hooks, “To teach in a manner that respects and cares for the souls of our students [and their teachers!] is essential if we are to provide the necessary conditions where learning can most deeply and intimately begin.”       

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