Multilingual learners often require tailored educational strategies to support their language development and academic achievement. This is especially important in math, a content area that has unique language complexities to navigate on top of learning new math concepts.
Effective support for multilingual learners is about creating a more inclusive, equitable learning environment. We’ve put together accessible strategies for navigating these challenges and creating a classroom where all students can learn and thrive.
A multilingual learner is a student who is proficient in more than one language. These learners, who may also be referred to as ML students or MLL students, typically speak a different language at home compared to their instructional language at school.
The term is more inclusive than “English language learners” (ELLs) or “English learner” (EL). It recognizes students’ diverse abilities and values all languages, not just English. The term shifts the focus from lacking English skills as a deficit to one that appreciates multilingualism.
Many states and school districts still use the old terms to signal special supports. That includes English as a Second Language (ESL) adaptations or English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses. For our purposes here, the supports we’ll recommend are similar to what you’d see in diverse classrooms with an emphasis on math.
Multilingual learners are already navigating multiple linguistic and cultural contexts every day in school. Math requires highly specialized language to navigate, especially when students are asked to explain their thinking using math terms.
These are complex language demands that may require vocabulary and sentence structures students aren’t learning elsewhere. Students who lack those scaffolds may end up missing out on instruction because of those language barriers despite a solid foundation in math. This can lead to gaps in skills and math anxiety, even in students who come into the classroom with foundations in math.
Understanding the basics behind supporting multilingual learners is important before tackling the language of math. You can support multilingual learners in your classroom by incorporating visual aids, encouraging peer collaboration, and using culturally relevant materials.
Provide clear instructions, use scaffolding strategies, and allow the use of students’ native languages when possible. Differentiate instruction to meet diverse needs. These general practices foster a more inclusive environment that celebrates linguistic and cultural diversity, no matter the content area. Now, let’s explore strategies that make math instruction more accessible for multilingual learners.
The best ways to teach math to multilingual learners involve making math more accessible for all of your students. If they’re missing content vocabulary, address that obstacle by front-loading relevant terms. If the contexts aren’t culturally sensitive, you can offer new ways for students to access word problems that tap into their experiences.
The strategies below foster student engagement and understanding while bridging language barriers, but they’re also good supports for academic success in any diverse classroom setting.
Before launching into a new concept, consider the vocabulary students will need to understand (and speak about) that concept. Review any additional vocabulary students may need to support their understanding.
Have students create a math vocabulary notebook that can be used as a reference throughout the year, or decorate your classroom with math walls that highlight key vocabulary terms. Multilingual students often need to be explicitly taught math words with multiple meanings in English, like ruler, mean, volume, odd, even, and table.
Use visuals, math manipulatives, and hands-on activities to teach complex words. Incorporate as much of this as you can into student resources, like the vocabulary notebooks we’ve already mentioned.
Introduce concepts using video and get younger students up and active. Games, scavenger hunts, and measuring activities are engaging ways to get all students excited about new concepts without a focus on heavy math vocabulary.
When possible, introduce digital tools that can present math content in new ways. Multilingual learners may even be more comfortable with digital tools, as they’re able to practice more independently. If your students are Spanish-speaking many digital platforms like Math Nation include embedded tools to support Spanish-speaking students.
Digital tools are also a good way to see what students already know. For example, they may know a different way of completing an algorithm due to regional differences. If they get to the same answer and are able to explain their thinking, it may be an opportunity to explore the idea that there are many ways to “do” math.
Word problems can be especially challenging for multilingual students. You should teach problem-solving routines to all of your students, but your multilingual learners may need extra support understanding the structure and additional vocabulary involved.
Consider any non-math words students need to know to understand the set-up, changing up the language to more familiar contexts when possible. Work with students on figuring out the essential parts of a problem, even if they don’t have an understanding of every word.
Use highlighters, sticky notes, and other accessibility tools to help students break down problems in a visual way. With older students, challenge them to create their own word problems using the math concepts of the day.
For any student, connecting math concepts to the world they know and observe makes the subject come alive. It also shows that their new environment values their experiences and knowledge.
Find out what interests your students and incorporate those interests in word problems and classroom activities. Use cultural references in those contexts. For older students, develop more complex, multi-unit projects that tap into their interests and concerns. Embrace collaboration to have students learn from one another.
All students should feel like their math classroom is a place where they can learn not only by doing but by making mistakes. Create an environment where everyone can actively participate and communicate. Focus on the content of your students’ ideas, not minor language mistakes that don’t change the meaning of their responses.
Offer multiple ways for students to respond, including without language. Visuals or physical prompts, for example, are a good way for students to provide non-verbal responses to questions. Choral responses are a good way to solicit responses from the whole group and model language without singling out a particular student. Use prompts and sentence frames at different proficiency levels to guide student responses.
Embrace more collaboration between students. Give students the opportunity to talk to one another and learn from each other. Use small groups with a mix of language and math skills for lower-stakes practices.
An important foundation for creating this kind of classroom experience is examining your own behaviors to ensure that you maintain high expectations for all of your students. Multilingual learners can achieve in math with the right supports. Many come into our English-speaking classrooms with skills that are on par or above their peers. Lowering our expectations of them inhibits future growth.
It’s rare to find a classroom in the United States without at least one multilingual student. You’re not alone. If you’re lucky enough to be at a school with an ELL educator or specialist, ask them for support. Explore online resources, YouTube channels, and professional learning opportunities to boost your repertoire of tools. Consider math programs and curricular supports like STEMscopes Math that include language support for your Spanish-speaking students.
Create opportunities to connect with your students’ families. Use translation services as needed to involve parents and guardians of students to play a role in student learning. Finally, connect with your students. They should always be your first resource. Showing a genuine interest in their language and culture could illuminate not only what they know in math, but how they feel about the subject and their own progress.
Supporting multilingual learners doesn’t just create a more inclusive environment. All of the supports we’ve described above have the potential to benefit struggling learners, students with diverse learning needs, and students with learning gaps in math. It’s not about prioritizing the needs of one group over another, but giving all students the chance to excel.
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