Blog 3

For my teacher interview I interviewed Lena Hernandez. She is a teacher at Gonzales High School in Gonzales, Texas. Lena teaches Spanish 2, 3, and 4 AP, and is also the English Language Learners chair at her school. She believes that you have to get to learn your students before you are able to teach them, making the connection is vital. Once the connection has been made there is a variety of methods that you can use, some of them include using signs around the room and also using hand motions when working with English Language Learners. I believe that these are good methods to use when trying to teach a second language to someone so that they are able to make the connection with what they are learning to a visual. Being able to see a fork and then learn the word fork in another language helps make a connection in your mind so that you are able to learn better, but not everyone may be a visual learner. Please watch my video to see what Lena suggests and recommends when it comes to ELL students.


Click here to watch my video

Comments

  1. mari sisJune 23, 2018 at 8:16 PM

    Hi Nayab! Lena has a lot of great suggestions for helping ELLs and I am sure that is due to her teaching all of those Spanish classes. I have seen signs around different classrooms to help with vocabulary development as she mentioned. Wright shares six steps for teaching new vocabulary for ELLs. They include, "provide a description, explanation, or example of the new term, ask students to restate the description, explanation, or example in their own words, ask students to construct a picture, symbol, or graphic representing the term or phrase. Engage students periodically in activities that help them add to their knowledge of the terms in their notebooks. Periodically ask students to discuss the terms with one another. Involve students periodically in games that allow them to play with terms" (2015, page 161). These steps really apply to all types of learners, which is great because not all students learn the same way.

    Wright, Wayne. Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners: Research, Theory, Policy, and Practice. Philadelphia, PA: Caslon, 2015. Print. Second Edition.

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    1. UnknownJune 27, 2018 at 2:20 PM

      Hi Marissa, I agree with you that she provided a lot of great suggestions to use with ELLs in the classroom. I think it is great that you have seen examples of what she is discussing in classrooms you have taught in before.The steps you have provided are a great way to introduce new material to students and you are correct that all students do not learn in the same way thus making this method resourceful.

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  2. UnknownJune 24, 2018 at 1:16 PM

    Hello Nayab! The interview with Lena was very interesting. I agree with Lena that getting to know your English language learner students is very crucial. Because if the students cannot relate to what you are teaching them then they will not be able to learn. However Wright (2010) explains various teaching methods teachers can use to make the content relatable to the students. For example, teachers can teach students songs and chants that will help them remember text easily. Learning a rhyme or a song can make learning English fun. It helps the student retain the information faster. When teaching the song the lyrics should be projected on the screen or clearly visible for the students to read (Wright, 2010). Sometimes the teachers can add hand movements to the song to aid the students. Teachers usually incorporate songs to teach students new vocabulary.



    Wright, Wayne. Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners: Research, Theory, Policy, and Practice. Philadelphia, PA: Caslon, 2010. Print. First Edition.

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    1. UnknownJune 27, 2018 at 2:23 PM

      Hi Shirin! Getting to know your learners, whether they are ELLs or not, is very important. I believe this gives you good insight on how the student learns and what methods may work best for them. I think that songs and chants are a great way to be introduced to another language, after all that is what peaked my interest in wanting to learn the second language that I now know today. I think that having a cursor following the words while the song lyrics are on the board would be the most beneficial way to use music for teaching.

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  3. UnknownJune 25, 2018 at 6:31 PM

    Lena talked about some of the methods that she uses when working with ELLs. She explains that “once you get to know your kids, you’re going to have to try different methods” because all students learn differently and benefit from a variety of approaches. Both visuals and hand motions are something that works in her classroom to help language learners make connections. Wright provides us with multiple instructional materials to help supplement our instruction. Some of those materials include, “graphic organizers, glossaries, highlighted areas, and other visuals” that can help make texts “more comprehensible for ELLs” (2015, p.267). I think it would be even more beneficial to provide students with options of what they like to use best rather than limiting them to a single method or strategy, especially when it comes to reading.

    Wright, Wayne. Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners: Research, Theory, Policy, and Practice. Philadelphia, PA: Caslon, 2015. Print. Second Edition.

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    1. UnknownJune 27, 2018 at 2:27 PM

      Hi Morgan! I believe that using different methods in the beginning can help you get a better understanding of how your students learn best. Granted each student is going to learn best from a different method, it still allows you to realize what works best for each students. I feel that visuals and hand motions are two big methods of teaching that are effective simply because you are able to convey your message without any confusion. Having signs around your room in English and in Spanish can help students with understanding along with hand motions that can be used to teach action words.

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    2. UnknownJune 27, 2018 at 4:47 PM

      One method that was used in a class that I observed two semesters ago used a unique visual strategy. The class had an specialty teacher come in to work with a small group of ELLs twice a week with language proficiency skills. She would attach pictures to the ends of pop-sickle sticks that would have both an image and a word or phrase on it that summarized the image. The pop-sickle sticks were used during group discussions to either prompt responses or give reminders to students when they were struggling to remember a word.

      Wright, Wayne. Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners: Research, Theory, Policy, and Practice. Philadelphia, PA: Caslon, 2015. Print. Second Edition.

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  4. Trinh Tao-PhamJune 25, 2018 at 8:54 PM

    Hi Nayab,

    Thank you for sharing your interview video with Ms. Hernandez. I have learned a lot from the information that she has provided during the interview. She has many different teaching techniques and strategies that are useful and beneficial to all types of learners, such as: visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic. One teaching technique that I found the most helpful one is cooperative learning. According to Wright, “Cooperative learning focuses on the use of small groups within which students collaborate to solve problems or complete academic tasks… and it offers rich opportunities for students to engage in meaningful communication and obtain comprehensible input as they interact to complete academic tasks” (2015, p. 63). I believe students learn best when they are working with their peers in small group activities. These activities will help to encourage ESL students to communicate and improve their English linguistic skills much faster through interacting with others. Teachers also can save more time to pay more attention on the one who need extra help, while other students can help their ESL classmates during their class activities. This is also similar to what Wright stated, “learning is a social activity, and knowledge is constructed through interaction and collaboration with others (2015, p. 42)”


    References:
    Wright, Wayne. Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners: Research, Theory, Policy, and Practice. Philadelphia, PA: Caslon, 2015. Print. Second Edition.

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    1. UnknownJune 27, 2018 at 2:29 PM

      Hi Trinh! I agree with you, Lena provided quite a bit of insight into the world of teaching and working with English Language Learners. I feel that cooperative learning is something that should be used in every class room because students learn best from students. They are able to make a connection that teachers are typically not able to make because they are in the same age group and may also be friends. I feel that through communication and social interaction is how students learn best.

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    2. Trinh Tao-PhamJune 27, 2018 at 9:41 PM

      Hi Nayab,

      Thank you for your reply. As we know cooperative learning is one of “must-have” strategies to use to encourage our ESL students to participate, interact and communicate with their peers in class. Teachers also need to pay attention to the different needs of each student to find appropriate teaching method to meet their needs. According to Wright, "This information about students and goals enables teachers to (1) select strategies that will enhance the oral language use and develop of specific ELLs and (2) differentiate instruction for the range of learners in their classes (2015, pg. 165).” Therefore, teachers can find the best strategies to get students more involved and engaged into the lessons, help them overcome their obstacles and assist them to perform their academic better.

      Reference:
      Wright, W. E. (2015). Foundations for teaching English language learners: Research, theory, policy, and practice. Philadelphia, PA: Caslon Pub.

      Delete

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