When I started teaching at Denny International Middle School in Seattle, I had the privilege of working alongside a truly fantastic ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher. He was constantly implementing creative strategies to support our language learners, and one statement he made stuck with me for years: “The things we do for our language learners, don’t just help them, they help everyone.”

At the time, I filed that quote away as a brilliant observation about inclusion. I hadn’t yet heard of the term that perfectly encapsulated his philosophy. Years later, when I finally had an opportunity to learn about UDL, I had an instantaneous “AHA!” moment: What he was describing was the core of Universal Design for Learning.

Defining UDL

So, what exactly is UDL?

UDL, or Universal Design for Learning, is a framework that guides the design of learning goals, materials, methods, and assessments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.

Instead of planning a lesson and then retrofitting it with accommodations for a few students, UDL encourages us to build flexibility and choice into the lesson from the very start. The core idea is that variability is the norm, not the exception, in any classroom.

The ESL Strategies That Are Secretly UDL

My former colleague’s approach to supporting language learners perfectly aligned with the three UDL principles—Engagement, Representation, and Action & Expression—and the best part is that every student in the room benefited.

Here are a few examples of the strategies he championed (designed for ESL) that served as perfect examples of UDL in action (for everyone):

1. Providing Multiple Means of Representation (The “What” of Learning)

• The Strategy: When introducing a new historical concept or complex text, he never relied only on reading aloud. He always supplemented it with visual aids, short videos, maps, and primary source images.
• How it Helps ESL: It lowers the linguistic barrier by anchoring abstract concepts to concrete visuals, ensuring comprehension doesn’t depend solely on English proficiency.
• How it Helps Everyone (UDL): Students who are visual learners, students with dyslexia, or students who simply need scaffolding to process new content all benefit. Presenting information in multiple media ensures the key concepts are accessible to diverse recognition networks.

2. Providing Multiple Means of Action & Expression (The “How” of Learning)

• The Strategy: For end-of-unit assessments, he never made the written essay the only option. Students could choose to create a graphic novel, record a podcast, build a physical model, or deliver an oral presentation.
• How it Helps ESL: It allows students to demonstrate their deep knowledge of the subject matter even if their confidence or proficiency in academic writing is still developing.
• How it Helps Everyone (UDL): Students who excel in public speaking, video editing, or graphic design can authentically demonstrate mastery, increasing motivation and allowing them to leverage their individual strengths.

3. Providing Multiple Means of Engagement (The “Why” of Learning)

• The Strategy: He intentionally provided choices in reading material and project topics. For example, during a unit on global migration, students could choose to research migration patterns in their own home country or a region they were personally interested in.
• How it Helps ESL: Connecting learning to students’ cultural backgrounds and lived experiences increases personal relevance and investment in the topic.
• How it Helps Everyone (UDL): Choice and relevance tap into the affective networks of the brain, boosting motivation and sustaining effort for all learners, making the content feel meaningful rather than just mandatory.

That early experience taught me that great teaching isn’t about giving some students extra work; it’s about changing the design of the work so that it inherently supports everyone. If you’re already using inclusive practices in your classroom, chances sure are, you’re already doing UDL!