Diversity, Culture and Language

Submitted by Paul Rogers on Thu, 01/19/2017 - 12:00
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In discussing the different cultures of our adult students, we should remember that language is also part of culture. Language is also part of personality.

In the US there are over 250 different languages spoken, more by far than any other country.

So we also need to respect and appreciate the languages of our students in our classes and schools.

Often when adult immigrants take classes, especially ESL, they feel overwhelmed and even intimidated by English Only instruction and texts.

There is ample evidence to demonstrate that a bilingual – or multilingual – method of instruction can be very helpful.

For example, a student does not need to know English to learn Biology, etc. Likewise in Beginning English classes, inclusion of the students’ first language can be very beneficial not only in learning a lesson but also in creating a comfortable atmosphere in the classroom.

Now with the use of technology it is easy to create multilingual lessons for adult students.

I know that many adult educators disagree with the above; I hope we might have a discussion about an issue that is growing in importance.

Paul Rogers

 

 

 

 

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Here are some of the steps, strategies, tips, and/or bright ideas my program will implement:

  1. Create a suitable game activity that caters to the instructional needs of the students, which in turn caters to the students’ sense of curiosity and increases their thirst for knowledge.
  2. Show students videos based on the topics or the subject we are learning. I will be using website’s online resources for the videos and additional information on the subject. For example: careeronestop.org, onetonline.org, mynextmove.org etc.
  3. Select an infographic that is relevant to the topics we are learning in the class. Using one or more infographics will give students a way to approach the complex visual texts increasingly used in the training.
  4. Will ask students questions, to activate background knowledge and will encourage them to take notes. I will use common language to start the subject matter.
  5. Ask students - to work in pairs or small groups, and to take turns acting as teacher. They can show this by asking questions and by requesting evidence from their peers.
  6. Familiarize myself first with the textbook and then help students familiarize with it by using different activities and strategies.  This will make it convenient for the students to use the book and be familiar with the subject in an easy way.
  7. Invite students to create projects using technology which will help them with language skills and digital skills both.

Q.  Think of a field your students might be interested in. Where would you go to collect authentic materials?

Ans. I will go online and explore few authentic websites which has legit and authentic information about that field. Some of these websites with information about various career pathways includes: Bureau of Labor Statistics Website, O*Net OnLine, , mynextmove.org etc. These websites have detailed authentic information about many fields and area of work. For example they have information about the job trend, job outlook, work environment, various task and duties for the position, skills required and many other authentic and relevant information. I will also take the help of the county and the college libraries of the area which have ton of available authentic resources.

Language Learning Practices in a low-intermediate adult English language acquisition class.

Practice the following competencies:

reading a paycheck,

language functions (making complaints and apologies),

reading skills,

writing skills,

listening skills,

speaking skills

grammar.

At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

read, write, and communicate a simple present tense about routines.

read, write, and communicate adverbs in a job communication.

understand different ways they may use reading and writing in their own lives.

Reading source: Alina’s reading and writing habits.

The purpose for this topic: to show English language learners different ways they may use reading and writing in their own lives.

What enhancements might you make so that learners get more practice with academic language, reading strategies or critical thinking?

1. What is the main idea?

2. Have students develop a definition chart for unit terms.

3. Venn Diagram for personal and professional terms for writing letters.

Assessments:

orally read a paycheck

write a complaint and apology in an email to an employer (this will employ grammar skills- specifically adverbs)

listen and make positive comments back and forth with a partner using personal and professional terms