This module and reflection was an overview of teaching English language for both students and teachers. We looked at articles relating to why English should be taught, who the learners are, and who the teachers of English learners are and what they (we) should know.
Reflection Post
Created October 28, 2017 by Amanda Johnson
While I found all of this week’s readings very beneficial and information, what hit me the most came from our book, Strategies for Teaching English Learners. In chapter one, there was a section titled “Languages at Risk.” This section went on to explain how so many of the minor languages of our world will be extinct in a century from now. It’s actually easy to see how that language can be lost.
An example: a friend that is German married her husband a while he was stationed in Germany. She already had two children and soon, they were on the move as the military usually does. Fast forward 10 years now, and those children don’t remember much of their native language that they grew up speaking. This situation happens all too often and in various circumstances.
We currently have around 6,000 languages spoken in the world! Losing the language is also a sign of losing their culture and that really disturbs me. While I do believe it is important to be able to communicate with one another, is our instruction of the English language forcing them to leave who they truly are behind?
It was encouraging to read some of the ways that we, as educators, can help solve the problem and allow families to keep their language. Volunteering to work with various communities, not only in your own neighborhood, but also around the world! It would definitely be an eye-opening experience to be able to see these cultures first hand and really understand who they are and where they come from. This volunteer work helps them to learn how they can preserve their language and help teach them the skills necessary to keep from losing it. The second recommendation was to assist these communities in recording their language through video, audio, and written records of the uses.
I try and educator my students on various cultures, but I can only do so much with the curriculum that I have been given. It can be hard to move too far away from that when districts have spent a good deal of money and time on that particular program and they want it to be used a specific way. We need to make sure that we are all doing the best we can. All of our students deserve an education and to be able to communicate, but it should not have to cost them their culture and language.
While I found all of this week’s readings very beneficial and information, what hit me the most came from our book, Strategies for Teaching English Learners. In chapter one, there was a section titled “Languages at Risk.” This section went on to explain how so many of the minor languages of our world will be extinct in a century from now. It’s actually easy to see how that language can be lost.
An example: a friend that is German married her husband a while he was stationed in Germany. She already had two children and soon, they were on the move as the military usually does. Fast forward 10 years now, and those children don’t remember much of their native language that they grew up speaking. This situation happens all too often and in various circumstances.
We currently have around 6,000 languages spoken in the world! Losing the language is also a sign of losing their culture and that really disturbs me. While I do believe it is important to be able to communicate with one another, is our instruction of the English language forcing them to leave who they truly are behind?
It was encouraging to read some of the ways that we, as educators, can help solve the problem and allow families to keep their language. Volunteering to work with various communities, not only in your own neighborhood, but also around the world! It would definitely be an eye-opening experience to be able to see these cultures first hand and really understand who they are and where they come from. This volunteer work helps them to learn how they can preserve their language and help teach them the skills necessary to keep from losing it. The second recommendation was to assist these communities in recording their language through video, audio, and written records of the uses.
I try and educator my students on various cultures, but I can only do so much with the curriculum that I have been given. It can be hard to move too far away from that when districts have spent a good deal of money and time on that particular program and they want it to be used a specific way. We need to make sure that we are all doing the best we can. All of our students deserve an education and to be able to communicate, but it should not have to cost them their culture and language.
Peer Response
Amanda,
I too chose the book as the most interesting of our readings! It provided so much insight into a topic I am just beginning to learn about. I am glad that you discuss the Languages at Risk, as my post focused more on EIL and Challenges of TESOL. It is vital, for every students, that we integrate a multicultural curriculum. The notion of volunteering is a great way to get involved in your own community or communities outside of one you are familiar with. I have volunteered at various after-school programs in different communities throughout my hometown, and it wasn't until I started doing that that I truly realized how diverse my hometown is. Excellent post!
Maegan Dubik, October 28, 2017
I too chose the book as the most interesting of our readings! It provided so much insight into a topic I am just beginning to learn about. I am glad that you discuss the Languages at Risk, as my post focused more on EIL and Challenges of TESOL. It is vital, for every students, that we integrate a multicultural curriculum. The notion of volunteering is a great way to get involved in your own community or communities outside of one you are familiar with. I have volunteered at various after-school programs in different communities throughout my hometown, and it wasn't until I started doing that that I truly realized how diverse my hometown is. Excellent post!
Maegan Dubik, October 28, 2017
Required Reading
- Dίaz-Rico, L. (2013). Chapter 1. Who are English learners and their teachers? In Strategies for teaching English learners (3rd ed.). Boston: Pearson.
- Fillmore, L. W., & Snow, C. E. (2000). What teachers need to know about language. ERIC. [Special Report]
- Maum, R. (2002). Nonnative-English-speaking teachers in the English teaching profession. JCPS Adult And Continuing Education