This is what our group had to say!
"It's important for teachers in today's society to prepare for diverse students that we may have in our classroom. The text explains how crucial it is to develop an effective reading instruction for diverse students. The Chinese students in New York were from a different culture, and wanted to be part of a new learning culture. They came with limited school classroom skills. ELL students need teachers to model and demonstrate what learning and interacting within a classroom looks like. Students will benefit from hands on and concrete experiences to help demonstrate the concept being taught. Teachers can help their diverse students to comprehend by going in depth about the concept and using graphic organizers, study maps, and paraphrasing. As a teacher working with diverse students, we should welcome their differences, culture, and beliefs. Teachers should allow students to share and discuss their differences and culture. Students should feel that they are important. Teaching ELL students concepts in their first language will help to build their understanding of a concept in the English language. Using a literacy based instruction, with a variety of books in their language and incorporating in the English language will be beneficial for the students as well as using facial expression as you read to them."
"Teaching a lesson to a classroom full of students who speak fluent English at times has it's obstacles. Imagine teaching a classroom with students who barely understand the language!
After reading passages from Island of English, I believe the most important aspect of teaching students out of the English culture, is to make sure they are comfortable. It is quite obvious that their main emotions are homesick, fear, and feeling less smart than everyone else. They go through a period of culture shock, and sitting in a classroom where people are speaking a different language is scary. As as teacher, I would make sure to firstly, make the student feel important. Have the other children learn a little about their culture and their language. Afterall, they are learning about theirs! I believe that good teachers incorporate culture into their teaching. Having an open mind and remembering that it is a big world we live in is important. Next, while explaining things to students, speak slowly (but not in a condescending manner) and paraphrase in short ideas first. Don't give them too much information at once. It will take longer for them to process everything, so it's important to make sure they are understanding everything a little bit at a time. That way later, they understand the big picture easier. With time, they will be picking up the language and the process will take less and less amount of time.
It is important to also remember that the point of view of certain subjects will be different with ESL students due to their culture. THis is nothing to discourage but something to encourage and allow them to build off of. Allow all the students to learn each other's point of views and learn from each other."
"One of the key points in the book is the ESL students who come to the United States not speaking English should immerse themselves in the American culture as much as possible. In order to read, write and speak English students will need to spend as much time as possible learning the language. In the book, Fu spoke of how her son coming to America not speaking English, but after six months became quite fluent. Fu also gave the example of the Chinese students in New York’s Chinatown spoke Chinese quite often, but very little English. The Chinese students have access to their language in every way possible. Even when the Chines students go to McDonalds in Chinatown they can read from the Chinese section of the menu. These students will need to develop their oral language.
Another key point is if teachers are going to help the ESL students develop their oral language, we must have different strategies we can use to help the students. Tape recordings are an excellent way to help students develop their oral language. Books on tape I believe is an excellent resource for students utilize as they are learning the English Language. There are excellent website available for the ESL students to read and listen to stories."
"I think the idea I would most likely want to get across to other teachers is that we need to be patient, considerate and creative. Patient because this is incredibly difficult. It's hard enough on a student to be in middle school because..well..it's middle school. Things are happening in their own individual lives that they are not used to. Their bodies and ideas are changing. It is a rough age as it is! Adding the language barrier must add another layer of stress that we as teachers may not be able to understand. We need to take the time to get to know the students as best as we can and work with their strengths and weaknesses to successfully teach them the language.
We have to be considerate because of same reasons we have to be patient. It could be very hard to empathize with students that speak a different language because we ourselves have never had to assimilate to a different culture. In this time, it is difficult enough to learn concepts let alone learn new concepts in a language that is foreign to you.
The idea of being creative in your teaching style should be at the forefront. The book states that encouraging ESL students to speak in English whenever possible. I agree, but to a certain extent. Perhaps have the students look at objects and say the word in Chinese and then have a card with the English spelling of the object and pronounce the word along with them. Simple one on one activities like these can make students feel more comfortable and at ease with learning these new concepts.
This book has a lot to offer, but I feel like you really have to dig deep for how it applies in our content areas. I appreciate how the book shines light on this perspective because this subject is not often discussed. "
"One of the key points in the book is the ESL students who come to the United States not speaking English should immerse themselves in the American culture as much as possible. In order to read, write and speak English students will need to spend as much time as possible learning the language. In the book, Fu spoke of how her son coming to America not speaking English, but after six months became quite fluent. Fu also gave the example of the Chinese students in New York’s Chinatown spoke Chinese quite often, but very little English. The Chinese students have access to their language in every way possible. Even when the Chines students go to McDonalds in Chinatown they can read from the Chinese section of the menu. These students will need to develop their oral language.
Another key point is if teachers are going to help the ESL students develop their oral language, we must have different strategies we can use to help the students. Tape recordings are an excellent way to help students develop their oral language. Books on tape I believe is an excellent resource for students utilize as they are learning the English Language. There are excellent website available for the ESL students to read and listen to stories."
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