When You Don't Understand a WORD They're Saying: Tips for Monolingual and Multilingual Classrooms 

Is there anything more fun than trying to keep a room full of ESL students focused and engaged? 🙃 Whether your class is full of students who speak the same language or a mix of multilingual learners, running an effective class can sometimes be frustrating.

But don’t panic! Whether you’re teaching a group of monolinguals who love to chat in their first language, or a bunch of multilinguals who have every language in the mix (and zero common ground), we’ve got your back with some practical tips that’ll keep you sailing smoothly—without losing your mind.

Monolingual Classrooms: When Everyone Speaks the Same Language (Sort of)

So, you’ve got a class where all the students speak the same native language. Nice, right? Well, sure, until they all decide that speaking their native tongue in English class is WAY easier than figuring out how to ask for help in English. Cue the groaning. 😬

But fear not! Here are a few ways to get them using English without falling into the L1 trap:

1. Teach Basic Classroom Phrases (Early, Trust Us!) The sooner you teach your students how to ask for a pen, confirm homework, or clarify instructions in English, the smoother your class will run. The trick here is to give them the functional phrases they need right from the start. You’ll keep the L1 chatter to a minimum, and the students won’t have an excuse to slide into their native tongue for the little stuff.
   
   

2. Beware of False Friends—They’re Out to Get You! False friends are the enemy. If your students share the same L1, they’ll all fall for the same false cognates. One common mistake can cause an entire class to trip over themselves in the same way. So, make sure to teach them these false friends early, and avoid the awkwardness later.
   
   

3. Try Translation Exercises! (Because who doesn’t love a good challenge?) If you students all speak the same native language, have them try translating sentences from their native language into English from time to time. Here’s how: After teaching your lesson for the day, plug in a few sentences using the targeted grammar into their native language using Google Translate. Display the sentences on the board and ask them to translate them back into English. This works GREAT as a quick homework assignment but can also be used as a fun in-class game. Plus, they get to practice and apply new vocabulary in context. It’s a win-win!

Multilingual Classrooms: Aka - When Your Classroom is the Tower of Babel 

Now, multilingual classrooms are a different challenge. While having a melting pot of languages, accents, and cultural backgrounds in one classroom can be fun, there’s usually a catch: when you’ve got a classroom where everyone speaks a different language, they’re not always comfortable talking to each other—especially if they don’t know enough English yet.

Here are a few tips to keep things on track:

1. Don’t Let Them Sit Next to Their Language Buddy! Chances are, you already know this. But when two students speak the same language, they’ll inevitably form their own mini-group, chatting away in anything but English. To keep that from happening, seat them strategically. Put a student who speaks Spanish next to one who speaks French or Chinese, so they’re forced to communicate in English. It’s a sneaky move, but it works!
   
   

2. Prep Them for Grammar—Before You Dive In. Let’s say you’re about to teach a grammar lesson, and you’re about to get into the nitty-gritty of nouns, verbs, and adjectives. Here’s the deal: Make sure your students know the basics BEFORE you dive in. Review terms like "noun" and "verb" in the students’ native languages, or just give them a quick heads-up that these will be coming up in your next lesson. That way, they won’t be sitting there trying to figure out what on earth you mean by “subject” and “predicate” mid-lesson.
   
   

3. Teach “Emergency English” for Peer Communication. Ever noticed how your multilingual students might stay silent in class instead of asking each other for help? Why? Because they can’t rely on their first language! Teach them essential phrases like “What does ___ mean?” or “Can you repeat that?” This way, they can help each other out—even if their English isn’t perfect yet. You’d be amazed how quickly they’ll start interacting more once they have the right words.
   
   

And now - Some Tips For ALL Classes:

No matter if your class is monolingual or multilingual, here are some universal strategies that will help you keep things running smoothly:

1. Google Translate Camera = The Classroom Hero. Sometimes, you just need to understand that one word. If your students are stuck on a word or phrase (and if your school’s phone policy allows for it), let them use Google Translate’s camera function to translate signs, papers, or textbooks on the spot. Boom. Instant understanding. (Just make sure they put their phones away afterwards!)
   
   

2. Keep Track of Common Errors—Your Classroom’s “Oops” List. We all know how frustrating it can be when a student keeps making the same mistake over and over. 😬 But here’s a quick fix—create an “Oops List”! Make a list of the most common mistakes in your classroom and put it someplace visible where the whole class can see it. Then, you can let students use it as a reference to self-correct. It’s a simple way to keep everyone on track and give them a little more ownership over their learning. Plus, it’s a fun way to remind them (and you) of the tricky spots they keep tripping over.
   
   

And there you have it! Whether you’re dealing with a room full of monolinguals or multilingual learners, you’ve now got a toolkit of strategies to help you keep the chaos to a minimum and the learning to a maximum. Let us know which of these tips works for you. And - if you’ve got your own strategies that you swear by, drop a comment below—we’d love to hear them!

P.S. The ESL Grammar Gallery is launching next month! 🎉 If you struggle with teaching grammar and would like access to a library of ready-made grammar presentations, visit us at: www.eslgrammargallery.com.