In times of uncertainty, students bring their stress into the classroom. Whether it’s due to immigration policies, personal hardships, or the pressures of standardized testing, many English learners (ELs) are struggling with anxiety. Some have even decided to leave school altogether.
As ESL teachers, our primary role is to facilitate language acquisition, but research tells us that high anxiety blocks this process. According to Stephen Krashen’s Affective Filter Hypothesis, when students experience stress, fear, or embarrassment, their ability to absorb and process language diminishes. The filter—an invisible barrier between input and comprehension—goes up, making it nearly impossible for them to learn.
The good news? Teachers can take steps to lower the affective filter by creating a safe, predictable, and engaging environment in the English language classroom. If students feel emotionally secure, they are far more likely to remain present, stay engaged, and acquire language.
To understand more about the affective filter and how emotions impact language learning, check out these helpful resources:
Once we acknowledge the real impact of stress on learning, the next step is finding actionable solutions. Here are five ways to build an ESL classroom where students can both process their emotions and stay engaged in learning.
1. Be the Emotional Anchor of the English Language Classroom
Students aren’t the only ones feeling anxious right now—teachers are carrying the weight of uncertainty too. Just look at any English Language Teacher Facebook page. However, as the emotional leader of the classroom, your energy sets the tone for learning. If you bring anxiety into the room, students will absorb it. Instead, focus on being a source of calm and reassurance.
Here are a few ways to stay grounded before stepping into the classroom:
Start your morning with a calming routine. Whether it’s meditation, deep breathing, or a quiet cup of coffee, give yourself a moment to reset before teaching.
Use music to set the tone. Playing soft instrumental music as students enter can help regulate emotions.
Take a moment before responding to stressful situations. Your reaction to disruptions or off-task behavior can either diffuse or escalate stress.
Remind yourself that your presence is your greatest asset. When students see your calm demeanor, they will likely follow suit. This at least sets your class on the road toward effective language acquisition.
Whatever it takes to bring peace into the room, do it. Students need to see you as a steady presence in their day.
2. Use Task-Based, Small-Group Work
Many English learners fear making mistakes in front of the whole class, which raises their anxiety and shuts down communication. Instead of focusing on grammar drills or whole-class discussions, shift to task-based instruction, or communicative teaching, where students work together to solve problems without worrying so much about language accuracy.
For example:
Assign pair or small-group tasks where students must collaborate to complete an activity.
Give students a clear goal, such as building a budget for a school event or designing a travel itinerary—tasks that require real-world communication.
Avoid error correction during the activity—let students focus on the goal rather than the form.
By shifting the focus away from correctness and toward meaningful communication, students naturally lower their anxiety and engage in language use.
3. Ensure Students Are Keeping Up With Their Other Classes
Many ESL students fall behind in their content-area classes—not because they lack intelligence, but because they lack support in navigating the academic language demands. This can lead to a sense of hopelessness, making it easier for them to disengage or drop out.
Here’s how to help:
Check in on students’ grades and assignments. If a student is falling behind in math or science, help them prioritize what they need to do.
Teach students how to advocate for themselves. Many ELs don’t know they can ask for extra time or clarification—give them sentence stems to use when speaking to teachers.
Use peer support. Pair students with bilingual peers or study groups so they have someone to turn to when they don’t understand a lesson.
If students feel they can succeed in school, they are far more likely to stay engaged and continue attending.
4. Get Students Moving
Movement is a natural stress reliever. Incorporating physical activity into lessons can release tension and keep students present in the classroom.
Different students will need different levels of movement, so adapt based on your class. Some ideas include:
Station rotations: Set up different activities around the room so students physically move while working.
Brain breaks: Quick activities like “stand up if…” or passing a ball while answering questions keep students engaged.
Interactive lessons: Have students physically act out vocabulary words, use gestures while storytelling, or walk around to interview classmates.
Even small amounts of movement can reset a student’s emotional state and bring them back into the moment.
5. Have One-on-One Check-Ins With Students
Students often suffer in silence—they hear the news, feel the fear, and don’t always know what to do with those emotions. A simple one-on-one conversation can make all the difference.
Try this:
Build independent activities into your routine. While students are reading or working on a quiet task, pull them one by one to your desk.
Ask about their lives, not just academics. “How are you feeling today?” or “What’s something that’s been on your mind?”
Listen without judgment. Sometimes students just need to know that someone sees them.
Not only does this improve classroom management, but it strengthens teacher-student relationships, making students feel more invested in staying in school.
Supporting Students With AIR Language
One challenge of individual student check-ins is finding the time while still keeping the rest of the class engaged. AIR Language provides a perfect solution: while students work on structured, meaningful language tasks, teachers have the freedom to pull students aside for one-on-one conversations.
With features like:
✅ Independent reading tools to keep students engaged
✅ Reading Conference Portal to facilitate one on one conversations
✅ Picture Dictionary to give students the tools to gain understanding on their own.
Teachers can support their students emotionally while ensuring they continue making academic progress.
Final Thoughts
The uncertainty and stress many English learners face today are very real—but so is the power of the classroom to be a space of security and growth.
You have probably heard of all of these strategies, but, as a wise man once said, "People need to be reminded more often than they need to be instructed."
What strategies have you used to help students manage anxiety in the classroom? Drop a comment below!
Comments