Blog Entry 4
Before enrolling in this course, I felt like I had some prior knowledge about ELLs from taking CUIN 4303: Second Language Acquisition. I also thought that with my experience as an English language learner and being surrounded by ELLs that I would be able to understand them more, but it wasn’t the case. I would find myself struggling at times throughout the course. From this course, I personally learned a lot of terminology. Connections were made when I realized that I was already did or know some of the practices that I didn’t know have a name for them. I enjoyed learning about teaching ELLs across age levels and especially about language skills such as listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
In this class, I got the chance to learn many different kinds of
strategies or techniques to use to both instruct and assess ELLs. A problem
that I have been experiencing lately in my student teaching class is whether I
should correct an error or not and if I do, when and how would I do it.
According to Brown & Lee (2015), the best way to treat errors is to help
ELLs notice the “incorrect form (through recasts…) and for the ELLs to actually
“initiate repairs” (p. 382). This show that the teacher should ensure that the
students understand why it was an error and have them try to fix it to the best
of their ability with as little prompting as possible.
I
think that using the blog was a creative and interactive idea. Unlike the discussion
board on Blackboard, I find the blog to be much more fascinating and
personalized. I wasn’t really new to the blog since I got the chance to work
with it for a bit in a technology course, but it could be sort of tricky at
first. Personally, I like how we got to learn from one another through the
comments and how cool it was to be able to watch video clips from our peers. I
could see myself incorporating technology both inside and outside my classroom.
I plan to use a blog as a form of communication toward the students and their
parents.
Lina, thank you for taking the time to share your journey in this course with us. I am shocked to hear that a previous ELL student struggled with this course. Nevertheless, it makes me feel more comfortable, for I struggled with this course as well. I thought that the corrections strategies that we learned in this course were the most helpful as well. From Wright I learned that we should “Correct errors when they impede communication. Correct errors during ESL or other language focused instruction when a particular language from has been taught and is being practiced…” (2015). Growing up, I would always ask teachers, “Can I go to the bathroom?” The teachers would say, “I don’t know, can you?” Because I was young, I just walked away because I thought my teacher was inexplicitly telling me, “no.” I later realized that my teachers wanted me to say the correct terminology: “May I go to the bathroom?” Although I was not an ELL student, I believe that Wright’s concept still applies. My teachers should not have attempted to correct me at that time because it was out of context. I do not wish to do the same to my ELL students.
ReplyDeleteLina, I too was like you. I have not taken the Second Language Acquisition Course yet but before enrolling in this course I felt like I had some prior knowledge because I was an English Language Learner myself. I soon found out that there was more to teaching a second language than I once believed. I too, learned a lot from this course and really got to put some strategies and techniques into practice. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi Chenda!
DeleteThank you for commenting on my blog! I am glad to learn that there was someone that went through the same experience like I did. Like I had mentioned on my blog, I totally agree with you that there are still a lot of things out there to learn about in order to teach a second language.
Hi Lina!
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with many of the things you mentioned about this course. I was an ELL learner for a little bit in my elementary school years and have to say that throughout this course there was very little that was new to me. Although there were various strategies as you mentioned that were very beneficial to me as well as we learned them throughout the course.
Hi Sharmeen!
DeleteThank you for commenting on my blog! I am glad to learn that you were also as English language learner. It is interesting to also know that much of the information in this course was not that new to you. Perhaps did you take the Second Language Acquisition class before this one? I felt like some of the information was familiar, but there was still a lot of things that I have learned from this course.
Hello Lina,
ReplyDeleteI agree that in this course we were introduced to a lot of different strategies and methods that could be beneficial to ELL learners. I also liked that we were introduced to methods that wouldn't have been as beneficial students. Think that you made an excellent point about correct student error. I can be difficult in the moment to make the most appropriate response. (Brown & Lee, 2015)
Hi BreAnna!
DeleteThank you for commenting on my blog! I am just glad to know that we both have a positive experience throughout this course. We were able to gain a better insight about the different kind of strategies and methods like what are they and whether we should use it or not. Also, it is true that it is hard to correct student error but through this class, I find the job much easier now.
Lina,
ReplyDeleteYou did a wonderful job when stating your thoughts throughout this post! I agree with you in saying I learned so much from this course dealing with ELL’s and ESL teachers. Growing up, I struggled with language at home and the English language in the classroom. After learning the different practices and techniques in this course I found that the reason I struggled so much was because my teachers never took the tine to teach me within the classroom. I also had to be pulled out in order to receive instruction causing me to miss a lot of peer interaction and observation. Overall you expressed yourself very well and I wish you nothing but the best.
Hi Jolie!
DeleteThank you for your sweet compliment! I am happy to know that you have also learned a lot from this course. My experience was similar to you, but I felt like for some reason my brain was able to distinguish between my language at home and the English language in the classroom. I was also in the pulled-out program in my school, but I think my teacher did a great job in making sure that I was catch up with the other student in the classroom. I wish the same to you as well!
Hello Lina,
ReplyDeleteI like that you pointed out that even though you were an ELL yourself, and you currently work with ELLs, that you had a difficult time with some of the content of this course. The terminology definitely was the most difficult, but most useful in the field, part of this class. I was able to hear things like "TELPAS" in my class and be able to know what the teachers and administrators were talking about. I was grateful that I had learned what I had thus far.
I agree with you that the blogs are a more inventive way to communicate through the class. New technology tools are always being created, and the different ways to apply them are endless (Wright, 2015, p. 253). Using new ways for our students to communicate with us, like a blog, will be important for us to continue to utilize.
Hi Cece!
DeleteThank you for commenting on my blog! I am glad to know that you agree with many of the things that I got to say and also that you got to learn a lot from this class. I felt like technology could make a difference if it is used in the right way because it could bridge communications and get pass through barriers that the past couldn't.