Digital technology for elementary English language learning (ELL) students

Abstract

English language learners (ELL) are students who are learning English not as their first, but as second or even third language.   A lot of the time these students do not speak English at home because they use their first language as the primary home language.  These students may only get the opportunity to learn to speak English in school.  In early elementary, kindergarten through Grade three, the primary focus is to develop language and literacy skills which will prepare the students for further educational learning.  The old saying is that; first you learn to read and then you read to learn.  In this study, I questioned how technology can be used to engage the early elementary ELL students to develop language and literacy skills.  I conducted an anonymous survey and an email interview to gather my data.  I found my results were inconclusive for determining which technologies would benefit the ELL elementary teacher in helping to develop language and literacy skills.  There are many valuable technologies available; however, further research will be necessary to draw any distinct conclusions.