What can Mr. Ramirez do to help Julio who speaks little English in class but speaks Spanish outside?

• A. Create a low anxiety environment by pairing students when working on content in L2
• B. Place him in an intensive English-only program
• C. Remove him from group activities
• D. Require him to produce English only during group work

Answer: (A)

When a student is still learning English, lowering the fear of making mistakes is key. Pairing Julio with a classmate to work on content in English gives him a low-pressure space to participate, ask questions, and hear language modeled in real tasks. The partner can scaffold the work by repeating ideas in simpler language, paraphrasing, or providing gentle support, while Julio practices listening and speaking in a meaningful context. This cooperative setup builds confidence, makes content accessible, and gradually strengthens his language skills through authentic interaction.

Other approaches either pull him out of classroom interaction, which limits practice and social connection, or pressure him to use English immediately without support, which can increase anxiety and hinder understanding.