When we ask veteran educators how to best support English language learners (ELLs) and immigrant students in school, we often hear the same answers come up: build relationships in school and look for ways to ensure that students feel welcome, comfortable, and safe. Not only does this help build community, but it gives students the confidence needed to try new things — including learning a new language!

A critical part of creating this supportive environment is to take a pro-active approach to preventing bullying and addressing bullying when it happens, as well as to understand some of the unique ways that bullying may impact English language learners (ELLs) and immigrant students. Here are some tips to help you get started.

Tips for Educators

1. Learn more about the issue.

Here's what you need to know:

• Bullying remains a serious issue in schools around the country. ELLs and immigrant students may face bullying due to language, accent, country of origin, cultural customs, food, dress, or immigration status.
• Immigration-related taunts may mention topics such as deportation, detention, and family separation. 
• This bullying may happen in person or online through cyber-bullying.

2. Review your district's bullying policies.

Before discussing bullying with students or families, familiarize yourself with your district's bullying plan and policies, as well as any related state policies. It's important for staff know to what to do when a bullying incident occurs, as well as policies related to discrimination, and you will be able to speak with more authority on the topic with students and families.

3. Set clear expectations early in the year.

Make sure that all students are clear on classroom/school rules on bullying. Post these rules in a place where they are easily visible, and refer back to them regularly. Reiterate that no one should be bullied for any reason, including language, accent, country of origin, cultural customs, food, dress, or immigration status. If your class writes its own classroom rules together, ensure they address bullying. You can see more suggestions for this process in Creating Shared Expectations in the Classroom. 

4. Give clear examples.

Share examples of what you consider bullying (without specifying anyone in particular or using actual events). Do not give examples that specifically include ELLs being bullied. This can make things even worse for ELLs! Some excellent examples would be from your own life experiences or examples of children moving to a new country and the difficulties of learning the language and culture. You can also share examples of being a bystander and an upstander.

You may also wish to use books to discuss bullying, such as the following:

• Tough Topics: Kids' Books About Bullying
• Tough Topics: Bullying Books for Middle Grades and YA

5. Set consequences.

Make sure that students understand that bullying, on any level, will not be tolerated and that the consequences will apply across the board. These consequences should be agreed upon throughout the school and be clearly posted. An ELL who knows that there are clear consequences for bullying can feel a sense of relief that his teachers and school are supporting him by creating a healthy environment. And it's also important for ELLs to understand these consequences so that they don't participate in bullying.

6. Be informed.

Make sure that you know what the signs of bullying are. Keep an eye on changes in your ELLs' attitudes and personalities. Subtle changes may or may not indicate big problems under the surface. Find out what's behind these changes if you can so that you can stay on top of the issue.

7. Take students seriously.

Take what your students share about their own experiences with bullying or what they have witnessed seriously. An ELL who sees other ELLs being bullied can become just as frightened as if it happened to him or her personally. Identify the most appropriate type of support for the situation in collaboration with other colleagues if needed. 

8. Write down what you see.

If you believe that a student in class is bullying an ELL but you aren’t sure, write down what you see or believe is happening. This way you will have a record of incidents which all together may form a picture when seen over the long term. You will also have some examples to talk about one-on-one with students when the opportunity arises, or during parent-teacher meetings.

9. Keep an eye out for widespread issues.

When you get reports of bullying, work with colleagues to determine whether bullying incidents are isolated or a sign of a larger trend at the school level that needs to be addressed by the whole staff. Consider a school-wide bullying prevention campaign that students help plan and put into action.

10. Use a team approach.

Bullying is a schoolwide issue and all staff can play a part in preventing it and addressing it, including administrators, classroom teachers, ELL/bilingual teachers, family liaisons, instructional specialists, and school staff. For example, our tips for ELL school staff such as bus drivers and food service workers encourage staff members to keep an eye out for all bullying, including of ELLs, and address bullying immediately. 

11. Request training on cyberbullying if needed.

Cyberbullying can take place on any kind of device or platform, including those used for educational purposes, as well as on personal messaging apps. Learn more about how to prevent and address cyberbullying, and look for ways to incorporate information about digital citizenship as part of your curriculum.

12. Partner with families.

Ensure that families understand that bullying is not something to be expected when living in a new country. Share this message early and often with parents. In addition, ensure families have accessible information in their languages about bullying and the school's prevention policies, guidelines, and disciplinary actions and make sure that families have a way to express their concerns, as in the case of a Muslim mother who asked Principal Nathaniel Provencio how he would ensure that her daughter would not be bullied. 

13. Work with families together after an incident.

If an incident occurs, work with both sets of parents or guardians where possible to address the incident. Make sure that parents have all the information they need translated into their home language.

14. Keep administrators informed. 

It is important that teachers remind school administrators of the additional risk that ELLs face from bullying. Give administrators clear examples of what ELLs experience from bullies if this issue is not being adequately addressed. Some additional steps that administrators can take include the following:

• Ensure that all staff (including substitute teachers and school resource officers or other security personnel) are aware of bullying prevention policies, guidelines, and disciplinary actions.
• Consider additional measures such as creating a team at the school to prevent harassment and bullying or producing a translated handbook for families.

15. Teach empathy and appreciation.

Personal stories can be powerful tools for increasing empathy and understanding. Take a look at these ideas for incorporating personal stories into the classroom, always taking care to respect privacy and never assuming that an individual is willing to discuss their experiences unless confirming that beforehand. In addition, you may wish to feature this topic in staff training through our related articles and slide deck.

You can also find more ideas in these resources:

• Gratitude Activities: Ideas for ELLs
• Ideas for teaching empathy and appreciation