top of page
When Roots Meet New Soil
Finding Ourselves in New Soil When I first read The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak, I was moved by how a single fig tree could symbolize belonging, loss, and adaptation. “To be uprooted is to be displaced not only from the soil that held you but also from the language, the smells, the sounds, the very air that gave you life.” - Elif Shafak (2021) This idea resembles to the experience of multilingual learners (MLs) in international schools. Much like the transplanted
Aylin Erengül Gregg
3 min read
What if we intentionally chose to look deeper?
In schools, it is easy to focus on what is most visible - tangible: grades, test scores, and subject-specific achievements - products and...
Aylin Erengül Gregg
2 min read
When mimicry goes wrong!: The reality of Language Learning
I have just watched - again! - one of my favourite movies, RomCom and cheesy but it has so many relatable messages in it. One scene in...
Aylin Erengül Gregg
4 min read
"What's up?" -"The Ceiling": Making Sense of English
A colleague of mine told me an anecdote the other day. He once saw a student in the corridor, looking upset, and he asked: “What’s up?”...
Aylin Erengül Gregg
3 min read
Creating Inclusive Classrooms for Multilingual Learners
A LEAVES Perspective In today’s diverse classrooms, where languages and cultures come together to create vibrant learning spaces, content...
Aylin Erengül Gregg
5 min read
Helping Multilingual Learners Thrive: Lowering the Affective Filter in the Classroom
“Language acquisition proceeds best when the acquirer is ‘open’ to the input, not ‘on the defensive’; not anxious about performance.”...
Aylin Erengül Gregg
3 min read
From Exposure to Awareness: How Noticing Strengthens Natural Language Learning
In language teaching, no single theory holds all the answers. While Stephen Krashen’s Natural Approach emphasises subconscious...
Aylin Erengül Gregg
3 min read
Building Confidence in Multilingual Learners Through Covert Error Correction
In the Natural Approach, self-esteem plays a crucial role in language development. When multilingual learners feel safe and confident,...
Aylin Erengül Gregg
1 min read
AFFIRMING, NOT ASSIMILATING!
Key Takeaways for Teachers: Practical, Everyday Strategies: Teachers don’t need to be language specialists. Simple strategies like...
Aylin Erengül Gregg
5 min read
The Unsung Heroes of our Classrooms
Multilingual learners, ELL, ELA, ESL students, are what I call the 'heroes' of international schools. Not because they fly around in...
Aylin Erengül Gregg
4 min read
bottom of page