In Class Learning Reflection
Learning a second or additional language can be seen as a long-process for learners. Because of the conflict between learners’ native language and second language, there are many potential difficulties which relate to the cultural and the linguistic among their learning. According to Wright, “ELLs are a diverse group, despite the misleading unifying label. ELLs come from a wide range of ethnic, cultural, linguistic, educational, and socioeconomic backgrounds”. Therefore, ELLs may have many obstructions from both their internal ‘weaknesses,’ such as the language speaking habits and their external ‘threatens,’ such as the difficulty during their learning.
For the ELLs, creating a good starting for English learning can help them to enter the language learning smoothly. After taking this class, I realized that teaching ELLs could not just use a one-size-fits-all teaching strategy to satisfy all students’ needs. Indeed, students have their own learning situations, such as their personal learning advantages and disadvantages. They should not be treated by a changeless teaching approach. Wright suggests that “when teachers know their ELLs’ language, literacy, content, and culture strengths, and needs, they can compare them to the students’ language, literacy, content, and culture instructional goals.” This viewpoint believes that teachers should understand their students’ different learning situations well. According to the learning from this class, I understood that the class observation is a very important strategy for teachers assessing whether the teaching material is suitable or not and whether the students are learning effective or not. For instance, in order to assess ELLs’ learning process, before taking this course I used to believe that adopting the exam type of tests is the most effective way to understand students’ learning situations. However, after combining the theories from the class and the experience from my professional practice, I realized that teachers should adopt a various assessment method to understand their students. As long as truly understand students’ needs, teachers can adjust the teaching concept and the teaching material, such as the lesson plan and the learning activities, for improving the teaching performance. Meanwhile, the class observation is one of the effective ways to understand ELLs. Wright highly suggested the class observation should be adopted in the ELLs classroom in his book. After participating in several ELLs teaching classes, I found that the class observation has been used few in the real world. Even though the teachers have tried to adopt the class observation strategy in their classes, the using frequency is also lower than I imaged. For instance, there is not enough communication between the teacher and students, and even not enough interactions among students
Throughout this course, I underhanded in the future for me to improve my ELLs teaching skill and teaching performance, I will pay more attention to class observation in my future professional practice, especially for the students learning interactions. In my own experience, before taking this course, my personal philosophy of teaching is more general beliefs of why I want to be a teacher and how to make a difference in students like. Now after taking this course, it impacts me to re-think about how to help my students to achieve their goals of learning and add the enjoyment of learning. Therefore, cultivating a logical and effective learning environment among my ELLs is my future achieving goal.
Throughout this course, I underhanded in the future for me to improve my ELLs teaching skill and teaching performance, I will pay more attention to class observation in my future professional practice, especially for the students learning interactions. In my own experience, before taking this course, my personal philosophy of teaching is more general beliefs of why I want to be a teacher and how to make a difference in students like. Now after taking this course, it impacts me to re-think about how to help my students to achieve their goals of learning and add the enjoyment of learning. Therefore, cultivating a logical and effective learning environment among my ELLs is my future achieving goal.
Wright, Wayne. Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners: Research, Theory, Policy, and Practice. Philadelphia, PA: Caslon, 2015. Print. Second Edition.
Hello Lori! Thank you for sharing your reflection about Second Language Methodology course. According to Wright (2015), “teachers tailor instruction to the unique language and academic needs of each student, that is, they need to provide differentiated instruction” (pg. 265). I think you’re totally right about “one-size-fits-all” teaching strategy does not exist in classroom. Every individual student is very unique and prefer different learning styles. In my opinion, teacher should also provide a combination of teacher-centered and student-centered approaches for differentiation. Classroom operates with student-centered instruction instead of listening to lecture, students will more engaging and increasing participation in their learning process.
ReplyDeleteHi Quynh
DeleteThank you for reading my reflection. I do agree with you on how the teacher should provide a combination of teacher-centered and student-centered approaches for differentiation. Students learn differently, as a future teacher we should always find the best suitable learning material for our students. According to Wright "As language and content teacher clarify their roles and responsibility for teaching ELLs"(pg.60).
Hello Fei!
ReplyDeleteI found many similarities between our two blogs and in our learning from this class. One thing that you emphasize in this post is that there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to teaching ELLs. There are multiple forms of language instruction that could be beneficial to one group of ELLs than the other. For example there our heritage programs, home language instruction, bilingual educations, dual language programs etc. That is just to name a few. This class made me more aware of how I teach ELLs and ways to make instructions more inclusive and well-round to appeal to all levels of English language proficiency.
DeleteHi Nadia
Thank you for reading my reflection, you comment is really thoughtful. I think it's important as a teacher we need to understand our students and to know what is the best learning strategies for them. According to Wright “Teacher also need to know their student’s cultural background and how culture influence learning at school” (Wright, 2015, pg. 17). Without knowing what the best fit for your student is, we can never become a real educator.
Wright, Wayne. Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners: Research, Theory, Policy, and Practice. Philadelphia, PA: Caslon, 2015. Print. Second Edition.
Hey Lori,
DeleteKaboody (2013) mentioned, “the role that teachers play in L2 classes are initiator, facilitator, motivator, ideal model of the target language speaker, mentor, consultant, and mental supporter” (p. 48). I believe that teachers play a major role in the success of L2. I’m agreeing with you that teacher need to understand our students and know the best strategies to support your ELL students. I think it takes a lot of practice and time for first year teachers like us but I believe we can so it.
Hi Fei. It's interesting that you point out that teachers need to varied the assessments for ELL students and I agree. Some of the assessments can be overwhelming for ELL students and as teachers, it's important to understand that they learned differently and that as teachers, we need to understand how to structure the assessments to benefit the ELL students' abilities. According to Wright (2010), educators need to be aware of the heavy testing burden placed on ELL students and the impact test results can have on students' and teachers' lives (Wright, 2010, pg. 111).
ReplyDeleteHi Michelle. It's great to know you also agree how important it is to understand how ELL students can be overwhelmed and we need to do our best to assist them in excelling in their academic learning. According to Wright (2010), educators need to be aware of the heavy testing burden placed on ELL students and the impact test results can have on students' and teachers' lives (Wright, 2010, pg. 111). The burden of testing ELL students must be taken into consideration as it can affect both the students and teachers. Teachers can try to adjust assessments to where the ELL students will be able to enjoy the lessons and still learn to the best of their abilities.
DeleteHello Fei!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing a wonderful reflection with us! I also had the same thoughts about exams and how the best course of action to checking their understanding is by assessing them through a series of questions. Further learning about the assessment strategies made me realize that this course of action was not very effective at all. Yes, class observation is very important. I think it is the best way for us educators to figure out what works well with the students and what needs to be changed in order to help them succeed. Our textbook mentioned that alternative authentic assessments are the best because, “they closely match with instructional practices in the classroom and they reflect the knowledge and skills ELLs need outside the classroom” (Wright, 2015, p. 139). Through these we can gain a better insight as to how students are learning and what concepts may needed to be retaught to them, without the addled stress of a standardized test.