While reading the introduction and chapter one of Valdes, Capitelli, and Alvarez (2011), a significant amount of the information given ties nicely with what I have or am currently learning in my Teaching English as a Second language (TESOL) classes. As the "Idea Illustrator," I tried to take significant ideas addressed that reflect what those who are encountering the TESOL program would benefit from knowing as well as those who are unfamiliar with the program would benefit from as well.
The illustration attached represents an outdoor picture in a broader sense of different elements that encompass second language acquisition. Below is a brief description Second Language Acquisition elements and how it correlates with the image it is attached to.
The Supreme Court cases at the top of the picture represent the sky which is purposeful in the fact that it covers English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers and non ESL teachers. These court cases, among many others, are set in stone and cannot be removed just as the sky is always present the decisions of the cases are too.
Research and different methodology (clouds) are always coming and sometimes going such as the One-On-One method (seen in chapter one). The research and methods brings about a large variety of perspectives, approaches, debates and disagreements (rain).
Below the clouds is an umbrella. SLA is an umbrella of goals and hopeful outcomes that are "soaked" and reflected by everything illustrative above. These elements are influenced, selected and taught by teachers whose students are English Language Learners (ELL).
The Supreme Court cases at the top of the picture represent the sky which is purposeful in the fact that it covers English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers and non ESL teachers. These court cases, among many others, are set in stone and cannot be removed just as the sky is always present the decisions of the cases are too.
Research and different methodology (clouds) are always coming and sometimes going such as the One-On-One method (seen in chapter one). The research and methods brings about a large variety of perspectives, approaches, debates and disagreements (rain).
Below the clouds is an umbrella. SLA is an umbrella of goals and hopeful outcomes that are "soaked" and reflected by everything illustrative above. These elements are influenced, selected and taught by teachers whose students are English Language Learners (ELL).
Lastly, at the bottom of the page, is an ELL and an English translation of her wants and needs. The fact is as stated on page 18, “ELLs can’t be made to wait to use the language until they’re like native speakers. They must learn through and with flawed English.”
How do we select or know what methods are beneficial to use if all ELLs in our classroom learn differently?
I love this picture! My heart goes out to ELL students, they are so enthusiastic but they just can't understand everything that is being taught to them. I recently observed a third grade class with 7 ELL students. The teacher did a phenomenal job using her hands and body language to convey what she was saying. The ELL students were not only attentive but also were paying attention to her words and her improvised sign language.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of the clouds representing the court cases was extremely intuitive. Unfortunately, the education of ELL students is dictated by public officials that may have little or no experience in the classroom or with ELL students. They are put under this “umbrella” with general education students and expected to function at the same ability.