Show+and+Tell

=**Embracing Culture** =

Because ELL students are essentially tugged and puled in two directions (home culture/language vs. school culture/language), it is important to tap into and embrace their pre-existing knowledge of and experience with their culture. By creating a classroom environment that invites and fosters //**multiculturalism**//, ELL students will feel more comfortable and eager to learn. Doing so will also create a common acceptance and understanding among all students. By creating a space that embraces cultural //**diversity**//, students' affective and cognitive domains are put into practice, which in turn help ELL students learn content despite the language barrier. This is done by creating an emotional connection to the content, so as to better understand the cognitive aspect of the content.

Some examples include:
 * **Culture Bag** : Students bring in a bag from home filled with a few items that represent who they are. The great thing about this activity is that all students can participate, and in turn get to know a little bit about each other (which is also wonderful for the teacher-to see a "different" side of their students). Items from a student's country or photos "speak" much louder than any cultural lesson or words could ever describe, thus forgoing the language barrier.
 * **Poster Board Presentation of Country** : Again, much like the Culture Bag activity, all students can participate by presenting a poster board project on a country. For the ELL student, they will be able to provide valuable and interesting information that maybe students and even teachers may never know if not for the experience and knowledge of that student
 * **Cultural Decor throughout the Classroom** : Flags, pictures, artwork, etc. Any of these items enhance the look and feel of the classroom, while also adding a cognitive appeal to students' awareness of cultural diversity. ELL students will also feel proud and secure to know that where they come from is embraced in their new home, the classroom.
 * **Literature in other Languages** : More and more do we see children's literature being published in other languages or in bilingual form. This is a perfect way to introduce a bilingual approach to learning content, thus making it easier for the ELL student to comprehend and connect to the content.

It seems that the native speaker in the classroom might actually benefit the most from these activities, as they too will be exposed to other cultures and in turn become a more knowledgeable and accepting citizen of the world we live in. Yet more importantly, the ELL student will reach a level of comfort that might otherwise be lacking in a sometimes sterilized and cold classroom environment.