In this presentation, I will share the transformative journey of my past three years teaching multilingual learners (MLs) in the United States, after having taught for thirteen years abroad. Despite my extensive teaching experience, I faced numerous challenges upon entering U.S. classrooms, including mixed proficiency levels, a lack of established ESL guidance, numerous policies and procedures to assimilate, behavioral issues, and very low literacy skills among others.
Through perseverance and adaptability, I have identified key strategies to support MLs in various aspects of their educational journey. I discovered the importance of individualized support, fostering a trusting relationship, and addressing each student's unique needs.
This presentation will outline my progression from the initial challenges I faced at the beginning of my career, to a place where I can confidently support MLs through diverse school and afterschool activities, and I will strongly emphasize on how focusing on empathy has had a positive impact on my students.
Along this journey, I have learned valuable lessons that will be shared with other educators, highlighting practical strategies, insights, and reflections that can empower teachers to elevate outcomes for MLs.
