Are your ELL students staying silent during class discussions no matter how much you encourage them to participate?

After laying the groundwork with listening in our previous episode, today’s spotlight is on the speaking domain—arguably one of the most intimidating and vulnerable areas for ELL students.

Speaking out loud in a new language can bring up fears of making mistakes, mispronunciations, and the anxiety of being judged by peers. But with the right classroom environment and simple, effective routines, we can remove those barriers and help our ELLs become confident communicators.

In this episode, Beth shares five practical speaking routines you can implement immediately to foster student participation, lower the affective filter, and create natural opportunities for language output—all without adding more work to your plate.

We also take a deep dive into oracy—a crucial, often overlooked skill that benefits not just multilingual learners, but all students. Beth explains how oracy encompasses physical, linguistic, cognitive, and social-emotional skills and why developing strong communication habits is essential for academic success and real-world readiness.

✔️ Why speaking is the next critical step after listening for language development.

✔️ The top barriers ELLs face when it comes to speaking, and how to remove them.

✔️ How to create safe, low-pressure environments that encourage risk-taking and participation.

✔️ The power of oracy and why communication skills must be a classroom priority.

✔️ Five simple and fun speaking routines that boost confidence and fluency.

Beth also shares bonus ideas for pre-speaking, active-speaking, and post-speaking routines like vocabulary brainstorms, talking chips, Four Corners, partner interviews, and self-assessments to keep your students engaged and growing.

If you're ready to transform your classroom into a space where ELLs feel excited and empowered to speak, this episode is packed with actionable strategies you can start using tomorrow!

Links and Resources

• Get your Free Listening Activities Cards Download
• The Oracy Skills Framework from Oracy Cambridge
• Sentence Stems Resource
• ⁠⁠⁠Join the Equipping ELLs Membership
• Shop our TpT Store

Have you ever wondered why your ELL students struggle with speaking, reading, or writing?

The answer often comes down to one foundational skill: listening. In this episode, Beth Vaucher explores why listening is the gateway to all language learning, what makes it so challenging for English Language Learners, and—most importantly—five simple and effective routines you can implement right away to help your students strengthen their listening skills.

Listening is often the most difficult skill for ELLs because they are processing a new language in real time, surrounded by unfamiliar vocabulary and fast-paced speech. Without strong listening skills, students struggle to understand directions, participate in classroom discussions, and make sense of academic content. This episode breaks down the biggest barriers to listening comprehension and provides actionable strategies you can use immediately.

If you’re looking for ready-to-use listening activities that seamlessly fit into your lessons, the Equipping ELLs Membership provides over 350 resources designed to support your students’ language development. With a dedicated section on listening activities, you’ll have access to daily warm-ups, independent practice, and scaffolded routines to build listening comprehension.

Try implementing one or two of these routines in your classroom this week, and let us know how they work for your students. You can share your experience by tagging @equippingELLs on Instagram or sending us an email at hello@equippingells.com. We’d love to hear from you!

Next week, we’ll continue our series on language skills by focusing on speaking. We’ll discuss why speaking is the next critical step in language development and share five practical routines to help your ELLs build confidence and fluency.

Links and Resources:

• Get your Free Listening Activities Cards Download
• ⁠⁠⁠Join the Equipping ELLs Membership
• Shop our TpT Store

Welcome back to the Equipping ELLs Podcast! In this episode, host Beth Vaucher kicks off a powerful new series designed to help you maximize the last few months of the school year without adding to your workload. If you’re feeling exhausted but still want to give your English Language Learners (ELLs) the best support possible, this episode is for you.

Beth breaks down the critical role of language acquisition and the importance of focusing on the four essential domains: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. You’ll learn why these domains don’t exist in isolation and how to identify which areas your students need the most support in. Discover practical, easy-to-implement routines that make teaching language skills more effective and less overwhelming.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why the last few months of the year are prime for language growth.
• How to strategically focus on the four language domains for maximum impact.
• Simple ways to assess your students' strengths and weaknesses without formal tests.
• Practical, stress-free routines to boost listening comprehension, oral fluency, reading comprehension, and writing skills.

Beth also shares insights from her own language learning journey, highlighting the foundational role of listening in building overall language proficiency. Plus, she previews the upcoming episodes in this series, where each domain will be explored in greater depth, complete with actionable routines you can start using immediately.

🎙️ Don’t miss out! Hit that subscribe button and share this episode with a fellow teacher who could use a little extra support during this busy season. Together, let’s help our ELLs continue growing, one domain at a time.

RESOURCES AND LINKS:

• ⁠⁠⁠Join the Equipping ELLs Membership
• Shop our TpT Store

Did you know that supporting your students' growth goes far beyond bilingualism and language itself?

In this episode of Equipping ELLs, host Beth Vaucher welcomes Gabby Montenegro Rivera, a bilingual and bicultural educator with a powerful personal story. Gabby, who grew up in Panama with Colombian and Panamanian roots, shares her journey of embracing both Latin and American cultures, highlighting the challenges and advantages of being bicultural.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How early exposure to English shaped Gabby’s academic and personal growth
• The difference between bilingualism and biculturalism, and why both matter
• The cultural barriers multilingual learners face in education
• How to foster a sense of belonging for bicultural students in the classroom
• The emotional impact of living between two cultures, and what “home” really means

As an educator, understanding the cultural experiences of multilingual learners is key to helping them succeed. Gabby shares eye-opening insights on the importance of cultural fluency, her personal struggles with writing in English despite being fluent, and why teachers should actively create spaces where students can embrace both their linguistic and cultural identities.

Plus, Gabby dives into how language influences personality and how educators can bridge cultural gaps in the classroom.

Whether you're a teacher, student, or someone passionate about cultural identity, this episode is filled with practical strategies and inspiring takeaways.

🎧 Tune in now and learn how to support bicultural students in and beyond the classroom!

RESOURCES AND LINKS:

• ⁠⁠⁠Join the Equipping ELLs Membership
• Shop our TpT Store

Have you been told that your students' grades are all that matters as indicators of their success? They can figure out the rest on their own?

In this eye-opening episode of Equipping ELLs, host Beth Vaucher sits down with the incredible Pamela Broussard, a veteran educator with over 30 years of experience working with multilingual learners, refugees, and students in high-need communities. Together, they dismantle the myth that multilingual learners will simply "figure things out" on their own. Instead, Pamela highlights the critical importance of social and cultural capital in ensuring these students don’t just graduate but thrive beyond high school, whether in college, careers, or their communities.

Pamela shares actionable strategies that educators, schools, and families can implement at every stage of a student’s journey, from elementary school to high school graduation. You’ll learn:

✅ Why “school + something else” is the key to scholarship opportunities and career success

✅ How to bridge the gap between ELLs and native English-speaking peers

✅ Ways to introduce leadership opportunities, even for students with limited English proficiency

✅ The role of extracurricular activities in breaking cycles of poverty and opening doors

✅ How schools can intentionally create cross-cultural relationships

Pamela also offers practical solutions for making sure ELLs gain access to scholarships, service hours, and leadership roles that set them apart in college and career applications. Plus, she reveals why starting in elementary and middle school is crucial for long-term success.

This episode is packed with real-life success stories, expert advice, and a fresh perspective on how we can better serve multilingual students.

RESOURCES AND LINKS:

• Leading ELLs Facebook Group
• Visit Pamela's Website for More Info and Resources
• ⁠⁠⁠Join the Equipping ELLs Membership
• Shop our TpT Store

Do you find yourself questioning whether the assessments you are giving are truly accomplishing what they are intended to accomplish?

In this episode of Equipping ELLs, host Beth Vaucher welcomes two of the most influential voices in multilingual education and assessment: Dr. Andrea Honigsfeld and Dr. Margo Gottlieb. As part of the ongoing series, Dismantling Misconceptions About Multilingual Learners, this conversation focuses on rethinking assessment practices to better support English Language Learners (ELLs). Traditional testing methods often fail to capture the full potential of multilingual learners, limiting both students and educators in the process. Dr. Honigsfeld and Dr. Gottlieb challenge these outdated perspectives, advocating for a collaborative, asset-based approach that empowers both teachers and students.

Drawing from their latest book, Collaborative Assessment for Multilingual Learners: Pathways to Partnerships, they explain how assessment can be integrated into daily instruction rather than treated as an isolated, high-stakes event. Instead of relying solely on standardized tests, which often fail to reflect students' true abilities, they introduce strategies that emphasize student voice, self-reflection, and peer collaboration.

By shifting the focus away from rigid testing structures and toward ongoing, meaningful and collaborative assessment, educators can better understand their students' academic progress while fostering confidence and engagement.

Dr. Honigsfeld and Dr. Gottlieb make the case that effective assessment should be an ongoing, collaborative process rather than a one-time event. Through real-world examples, they highlight how student voice, choice, and self-reflection can transform assessment into a tool for empowerment rather than a barrier to success. They also emphasize the importance of school leadership and systemic support in making meaningful change, while providing practical steps for educators who want to start small and build more inclusive assessment practices in their classrooms.

Resources

Collaborative Assessment for Multilingual Learners and Teachers

Check out Dr. Margo Gottlieb's Work

Check out Dr. Andrea Honigsfeld's Work

⁠⁠⁠Join the Equipping ELLs Membership

Shop our TpT Store

Check Out Dr. Honigsfeld's other episode on the Equipping ELL's Podcast!

In this transformative episode of the Equipping ELLs podcast, host Beth Vaucher is joined by the incredible Valentina Gonzalez, a former English Language Learner (ELL), educational consultant, and passionate advocate for multilingual students. Together, they tackle the widespread misconception that ELL students are starting from scratch in their educational journey. Valentina shares her personal experiences, professional insights, and actionable strategies to challenge this narrative and elevate the role of linguistic and cultural assets in education.

Listeners will discover why labeling ESOL as an "intervention" undermines the potential of ELL students and how educators can shift their mindsets to foster inclusive, affirming learning environments. Valentina delves into practical, low-prep, high-impact strategies for supporting language development, such as leveraging cross-linguistic connections, integrating visuals, and providing meaningful wait time. She also shares her own journey as an ELL, the challenges of navigating an education system that often prioritizes assimilation, and her fight to ensure linguistic diversity is celebrated, not erased.

Whether you're an educator, administrator, or advocate, this episode is packed with inspiration and tools to create classrooms that honor the unique strengths of multilingual learners. Plus, Valentina shares exciting updates about her upcoming illustrated guide, Welcome to Teaching Multilingual Learners, co-authored with Doug Fisher and Nancy Frey. Don’t miss this enriching conversation that will leave you motivated to rethink how you support ELL students in your schools.

Key Highlights:

• The importance of seeing ESOL as an asset, not an intervention.
• Strategies for designing culturally inclusive classrooms.
• Why embracing linguistic diversity benefits all learners.
• How administrators can lead change to support ELL students.
• Valentina’s inspiring personal story and her advocacy for multilingual learners.

Resources

• Visit Valentina's Blog
• Purchase one of Valentina's Books
• Connect with Valentina on Instagram
• ⁠⁠⁠Join the Equipping ELLs Membership
• Shop our TpT Store

In this episode of the Equipping ELLs podcast, host Beth Vaucher dives into dismantling misconceptions about English Language Learners (ELLs) with the help of Dr. Lillian Ardell.

A bilingual education coach, keynote speaker, and advocate for multilingual equity, Dr. Ardell sheds light on the pervasive "monolingual bias" in education. Through real-life stories, she illustrates how this bias impacts teachers’ expectations and instructional strategies.

Dr. Ardell passionately outlines her framework for teacher advocacy, emphasizing linguistic justice, culturally sustaining pedagogy, and actionable steps to support ELLs effectively.

Listeners will hear how assimilation narratives harm multilingual students and why embracing their linguistic and cultural identities fosters stronger learning outcomes.

From practical disruptors to engaging students in meaningful ways, this episode offers tools for educators to create more inclusive and joyful classrooms. Dr. Ardell also provides strategies for addressing policy-driven pressures and finding allies in the fight for equity.

Tune in to learn how to reframe approaches, amplify advocacy, and sustain motivation in challenging environments. Don’t miss this empowering conversation and a sneak peek at Dr. Ardell’s upcoming book, "Disrupting the Monolingual Bias."

Resources

• Connect with Dr. Ardell on Instagram
• Get More Info on Dr. Ardell's book Disrupting the Monolingual Bias
• ⁠⁠⁠Join the Equipping ELLs Membership
• Shop our TpT Store