Episode 77 - How to Build EL Literacy From the Ground Up with Kyle Larson

The ESL Teaching Podcast

The ESL Teaching Podcast
Episode 77 - How to Build EL Literacy From the Ground Up with Kyle Larson
Aug 08, 2023
Ieva Grauslys, ESL/ELL teaching

How do you build students' literacy and confidence from the ground up? My guest, Kyle Larson, and I talk about just that on this episode.

How to help EL students with literacy, especially as they enter the US educational system in upper elementary grades or later, is an eternal question for all of us. There are so many nuances in this. 

I am excited to share our conversation with you, and I know it will be super valuable. And if you'd like to see us, you can watch the recording of this interview on my YouTube channel at Simply Ieva ESL.


What you will hear about in this episode:

  • The importance of having honest conversations with students about their language learning challenges and helping them realize their own power to improve.
  • Strategies for building EL literacy from the ground up, including setting reading goals for students and providing ways for teachers to check in on their progress.
  • Kyle's personal journey as an ELL teacher, including his studies in Spanish and English linguistics, teaching experiences in different countries, and his current role as an ELL teacher at Frisco High School in Texas.
  • The concept of breaking down assumptions about language learning, accommodating diverse students in the classroom, and viewing every teacher as a language teacher who teaches their content through the medium of language.

Show Notes:

Resources Mentioned:


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