Social‐Emotional Learning (SEL) in the English Language Classroom

Abstract

Educators attend to achievement and academic success in the English learning classroom, but students also need to be able to develop skills within the realm of social‐emotional learning (SEL). Appropriate behavior in the new host community may be complicated by cultural miscues and is often confusing to negotiate for the newcomer. SEL strategies can be incorporated in the classroom so learners can effectively learn to apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. The five core competencies of SEL are self‐awareness, self‐management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making. This entry shares how educators can integrate these concepts daily in the classroom so that they can be used to help English learners navigate and function appropriately with others in the new host country.