ELLs Strategies
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Speak Up ESL Podcast 1
Technology: a tool in the ESL classroom
New podcast web blog to talk about ESL and Bilingual education. A space to share information to help English language learners and promote diversity and cultural understanding.
New podcast web blog to talk about ESL and Bilingual education. A space to share information to help English language learners and promote diversity and cultural understanding.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Technology´s role in the ESL Classroom
Teachers
face new challenges in the classroom every day. One of these challenges is
that the English Language Learners are a constantly growing population. ELLs like any other student are technologically
equipped. They know how to surf web
pages and Facebook; they know how to use Wii and IPod among others. At this time, students know and play with
different technological toys, since they started Kindergarten. When they
use different gadgets, they seem very successful and enjoy what they do.
However, when it is the moment to read a text or pass a test, students show
feelings of discomfort and apathy in the classroom. So, the reflection is
how teachers raise motivation and scores at the same time?
First, It
is positive when the teacher knows students’ English proficiency levels because
these alignments give a clear understanding of students’ needs. At the
same time the teacher will know what to expect of the students. According
to Teachers of English to Speakers to Other Languages (2006), each ESL student
should be prepared to improve in four domains (listening, speaking, reading and
writing). Also, when it is the moment to plan a lesson, it is necessary
to include the five levels of language proficiency (starting, emerging,
developing, expanding and bridging).
Second,
differentiating instruction is a tool to recognize students’ individualities
and that not all of them learn the same way. The teacher’s job is
basically to adjust different kinds of activities according to students’
levels. Based on Sasson (2010), promote group work (pair, small groups).
In this way students can share information by clarifying and
discussing. Another way is to adjust the questions by taking into account
Bloom’s taxonomy. So, students will feel challenged and will understand
the directions of a given assignment.
Third,
if the teacher wants to catch students’ attention, it is necessary to modify
the teaching strategy. Students love to develop projects that call their
attention for example using a Web Quest about animated cartoons. They may
also practice for a test using the computer or a game like Jeopardy.
There are computer programs or web sites that help ESL students; sometimes they
feel more comfortable fixing their mistakes by themselves especially if they
are adolescents. They will not feel the judgment of the whole class when
they are reading or writing in the middle of an assignment. In the case
of kindergarten or elementary students the internet offers a lot of activities
to improve their spelling skills.
Finally,
the teacher cannot deny the development of technology nowadays and should integrate
it in activities that encourage the use of the language for diverse purposes
and scenarios. A clear example of a good web resource is Branch and Cheatham (2011) 50 ways
to integrate technology in your classroom tomorrow. This site shows
multiple activities teachers can put into practice and adjust for the lesson
plans. Therefore, the use of PowerPoint presentations, audios, and videos
are very advantageous for the ESL students. References
Branch, J., & Cheatham, A. (2011). 50 Ways to integrate technology in you classroom
50-ways-to-anchor-technology. Retrieved from
http://sites.google.com/site/anchortechnologytomorrow/home/50-ways-to-anchor-technology.
Sasson D. (2010, Jun 25). Using differentiated strategies to
provide enrichment for
ESLstudents. Retrieved from http://voices.yahoo.com/using-differentiated-
strategies provide-enrichment-6269046.html
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other
Languages, Inc. (2006) PreK–12 english
language proficiency standards framework. Standards. Retrieved from
http://www.tesol.org /s_tesol/sec_document.asp?CID=281&DID=13323#framework
WebQuest," as defined by Tom March, circa 2003
"A WebQuest is a scaffolded learning structure that uses links to essential resources on the World Wide Web and an authentic task to motivate students’ investigation of a central, open-ended question, development of individual expertise and participation in a final group process that attempts to transform newly acquired information into a more sophisticated understanding. The best WebQuests do this in a way that inspires students to see richer thematic relationships, facilitate a contribution to the real world of learning and reflect on their own metacognitive processes."
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