Improve assessment accessibility for multilingual learners: Teaching tips to help you tackle four key language challenges EAL learners face in chemistry

STEM subjects, including chemistry, are challenging for multilingual learners due to the formal and technical language we use. This makes it difficult for them to show their full understanding of the content, especially during high-stakes exams. A recent study identified four key challenges multilingual learners face: lack of metacognitive support, complex vocabulary and syntax, dense text layout and inclusion of irrelevant information. Teachers who tackle these challenges will help EAL learners achieve success. Use these evidence-based teaching tips to get started.