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English Language Learners, or ELLs, are a growing population in the online college-learning environment. Often times, ELL students are admitted into programs having little to no previous experience writing for specific academic purposes. College level academic writing requires using high levels of academic vocabulary combined with complex language structures. Due to these language barriers, college level ELL students can experience difficulty with essay writing and communicating effectively with peers and faculty in the online forums.

Instructors may be uncertain if ELLs are present in the online classroom. Once the second language learning issues are identified, instructors can begin a series of coaching strategies for students to help support the increase of academic writing skills while teaching the core content of the class at the same time.

When English Language Learners are in college level courses, multiple challenges for the faculty can be presented. Poor academic performance, lack of academic vocabulary use and weak sentence structures are common areas of concern. The use of academic vocabulary and grammatically correct sentence structures are essential to the overall success of all students, however, when students are not fully language proficient, they can experience difficulty with meeting the course expectations.

While instructors cannot spend time teaching explicit grammar skills at the college level, research does show the strong role grammar knowledge can play in increasing writing skills. There are simple resources that instructors can provide to these students to boost their understanding of complex grammatical structures that will lead to higher levels of academic performance.

Presenter Information:

Mia Damiani

Mia Damiani has been working with ELL students for over 10 years in both teaching and coaching roles. Ms. Damiani has had extensive experience working with ELL students in a dual language setting and the SEI classroom. She currently teaches full time as a faculty member at Grand Canyon University Online in the College of Education.

Cheryl Lira-Layne

Cheryl Lira-Layne has been working with ELL students for over 20 years in both teaching and administrative roles. Ms. Lira-Layne has extensive experience assisting ELL students to reach high levels of linguistic competency enabling them to experience both academic and social success. She has worked with various school districts across Arizona to help design effective ESL programs and has collaborated with the Arizona Department of Education for various projects. She is currently a full-time online faculty for Grand Canyon University working in the College of Education ESL program.