Supporting language proficiency is an ongoing process, and incorporating these additional tips will contribute to the overall success of your students in both content knowledge and language competence.
- Insist on English in written and oral communication, even if you share an L1. Foster a supportive atmosphere where students feel comfortable expressing themselves in English. Encourage questions and discussions in class, and emphasise that making mistakes is a natural part of the learning process.
- Role-model effective language use and demonstrate strong language skills during lectures and interactions with students. Model clear communication and proper language use, serving as a positive example for your students to emulate. Ask your TAs to do the same.
- When setting assignments, emphasise your expectation that the work should be spell checked and edited for language mistakes to the best of their ability.
- Include clear, accurate and appropriate language use in your evaluation criteria for assignments/exams to emphasise its importance.
- Highlight real-world language relevance and remind students of the benefits of learning the language in your field. Emphasise how English language proficiency is vital in real-world applications of the course content, such as research publications, international collaborations, or industry-specific reports.
- When possible offer some written feedback on the use of language in students' assignments. In other words, when you can, try focusing not only on content but also on language proficiency, pointing out some of the language errors. When students see that you notice them and you care, they will put in more effort to edit their work for language before submitting them.
- Recommend English language resources tailored to your subject area, such as academic journals, podcasts, or documentaries. There are numerous resources on any topic on the Internet, but students may not be able to choose the ones that are of better quality and relevance. This will not only enhance language proficiency but also expose students to specialised terminology in their field. Encourage students to read and discuss these materials to broaden their language skills and subject knowledge.
- Collaborate and partner with the language departments or English language support services on campus to coordinate workshops or resources for students seeking additional language assistance. The School of Languages is always happy to work together.
- Recognise language learning requires ongoing progress. Acknowledge and praise students' language improvement throughout the semester. This positive reinforcement can motivate them to continue honing their language skills.
- Offer language support materials such as glossaries, language guides, or handouts that can assist students in understanding and using subject-specific terminology in English.
- Facilitate peer review sessions where students can provide feedback on each other's work, including language usage. This promotes collaborative learning and improves language skills through observation and interaction. At Sabancı University, you can encourage students to benefit from the Peer Writing Fellows program.
- Do not switch to L1 to make sure the content is clear to your students. Instead, employ multimodal teaching. Incorporate visual aids, diagrams, and multimedia content in your lectures to complement language instruction and enhance students' understanding of complex topics.