American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance - AAHPERD

 Issue: August 2004

Facilitating Second Language Acquisition in Elementary and Secondary Physical Education Classes
Nancy Bell & David Lorenzi

Abstract:
While a great deal of information exists to help physical education teachers respond to the increasing cultural diversity in United States schools, these teachers have received little help regarding how to cope with linguistic diversity. It is the responsibility of all teachers not only to ensure that students who are English-language learners (ELLs) have access to classroom content, but to facilitate second-language acquisition for those students. This article explains how physical education classes can promote second-language acquisition. The authors begin with an overview of how second-language learning occurs. This is followed by concrete ideas for activities that can be used to incorporate language learning into the physical education class.

Article category: Multiculture Issues