Some Teaching Suggestions for Hispanic American Students

One of the hardest issues that many Hispanic-American students deal with in terms of education is the English language. Many Hispanic-American learners do not have the advantage of English being their first language as many of their classmates do. Because of this language barrier, many Hispanic American students struggle to learn new concepts because they are all taught in the English language rather than their home language. To help these students be successful in education, teachers can implement a variety of teaching strategies that will be beneficial to the Hispanic American ethnic group.

One of the teaching strategies that teachers can implement whenever possible is to make sure minority students are included and accepted in every activity the class participates in. This includes having a classroom environment that celebrates students from a variety of cultures. It includes having a variety of perspectives when discussing various topics. It is developing an atmosphere where students work together and differences are explored and celebrated.

Another more technical teaching strategy that teachers can use is applying as much visual and hands on activities when possible. When a concept is accompanied by a visual, Hispanic American learners have an easier time understanding because the language or writing by itself may be too challenging to grasp all at once being that English is their second language. Hands on activities are also a good teaching strategy because it keeps students engaged and again, gives Hispanic American students another way to reach understanding other than only a verbal explanation. Hispanic American students can begin to understand through an explanation, but then they can confirm understanding through hands on learning.

Another way to make sure Hispanic American students are understanding is for teachers, when they are teaching a lesson and come across new vocabulary or vocabulary that they feel may be hard for a English language learner to understand, to clarify those words with either a visual or an explanation that makes the meaning of the word clear.   

Most importantly, teachers should get to know all of their students on a personal level. For Hispanic American learners, it is vitally important for them to have a teacher that genuinely cares and is willing to help them succeed academically if it means after school tutoring or simply re-clarifying concepts in class that seem to confuse.