Hi Lauren! I’m currently in a kindergarten classroom where we teach all the subjects as well. I really like the continuous learning too because we get to make connections to all the subjects throughout the day. I also have the Duolingo app and am trying to learn Spanish through it. I too am not having very much luck remembering the words and applying it to real life situations. I think it’s really cool that you are experiencing what to do when teachers have bilingual students or students who are trying to learn English. According to Ortega, “a number of universal influences that help shape the nature, pace, route and finish line in the path towards learning a second language… are age, mother tongue, environment and cognition” (Ortega, 2013, 9).
Ortega, L. (2013). Understanding second language acquisition. London: Routledge.
Hi Jordin, thanks for your comment! I think the problem with language learning services like Duolingo is that it does not have any naturalistic experiences. I think speaking with people in the new language as you learn it is an extremely important aspect of learning the language. You’re processing the new language in your head as you listen and speak, and are using it in real-life contexts. In an ideal world, I would love to go to a Spanish-speaking country to learn Spanish through immersion, but then I would have to continue using it after I returned in order to maintain it.
Hi Lauren, I totally agree when you said that apps like Duolingo don’t have a naturalistic experience. It’s just like the woman from the reading who went to Egypt and picked up on the language after a few years. She was fluent in the language they speak and it was like she was a native. I would love to experience going to other countries to learn their language and cultures.
Hi Lauren! I really enjoyed watching your video. I really agree that teaching all subjects is really great. It definitely helps the teacher to connect all subjects and help make learning meaningful. In my video I also spoke about communicating with students in the bilingual classes. There is that frustration of being able to only communicate a few words rather than have a full conversation. According to Ortega, second language acquisition "studies a wide variety of complex influences and phenomena that contribute to the puzzling range of possible outcomes when learning an additional language in a variety of contexts" (Ortega,2013,p.2). I think it is great that you have a student in your class who is going through the complex process of second language acquisition, because it is giving you an opportunity to learn more about this process.
Ortega, L. (2013). Understanding second language acquisition. London: Routledge.
Hi Rachel, thanks for your comment! Yes, I am excited to see the progression of my new student. So far, she has been with us for about 3 weeks and she is becoming more comfortable in the classroom. She came into our class knowing her numbers, alphabet, and basic words, but she rarely spoke. Now, I have noticed her speaking more with me and my mentor teacher and participating in whole group activities. I’m interested to see her progression between now and the end of the school year.
Hi Lauren! I’m currently student teaching in a 5th grade classroom and can attest to The fact that it’s difficult For students to stay in a “learning mode” when switching from classroom to Classroom. Ideally, I’d love to teach kinder-3rd in a self Contained classroom. I think it makes for easier transitions between subjects and gives us the flexibility to Integrate ALL subjects. I think it’s amazing that you are taking the time to learn new languages to expand your language learning. It’s so much more difficult, as adults, to internalize and learn new language because we have already layed an English foundation for our language learning. I think even memorizing ad practicing enough words to help you communicate with your students is amazing!
Hi Vivianne, thanks for your comment! I hope you have the opportunity to work in a self-contained classroom as well, I think you would do a great job! In my future classroom, I want to minimize the disconnect between subjects. Such as using the same book for ELA and science or social studies, to build off prior knowledge. I agree that it is more difficult to learn new languages as adults. Because of this, it is important to stay consistent with our learning and practice using it with others who speak the language. Naturalistic experiences are key to becoming confident with it.
Hi Lauren! I liked listening to your video. I could relate to a lot of what you were mentioning when it comes to communicating with some of my students. I have a few ESL students in my class that only speak English when they are in MY class, at school. When they are home, they speak Spanish with their family, so it makes communicating quite hard. I, for one, do not know any Spanish but I would like to one day. With time, I feel that our students will become better communicators. According to Ortega, "participants in a study did best in the language they were more actively and consistently using in daily activities", and this can relate to how much English they are hearing in the classroom. If we are patient and give them different tools to learn English by exposing them to different words, it will become easier for them in class (2013, p. 26).
Ortega, L. (2013). Understanding second language acquisition. London: Routledge.
Hi Savannah, thanks for your comment! I like the quote you used from Ortega, how people do better in activities when they use the language they are more familiar with. This is eye-opening, because, according to the quote, our students who are not using the language they are more familiar with for activities, they are not going to do their best. It’s important to know this as teachers because it helps us understand where our students are coming from and how to best support them in our classroom.
Hi Lauren! I’m currently in a kindergarten classroom where we teach all the subjects as well. I really like the continuous learning too because we get to make connections to all the subjects throughout the day. I also have the Duolingo app and am trying to learn Spanish through it. I too am not having very much luck remembering the words and applying it to real life situations. I think it’s really cool that you are experiencing what to do when teachers have bilingual students or students who are trying to learn English. According to Ortega, “a number of universal influences that help shape the nature, pace, route and finish line in the path towards learning a second language… are age, mother tongue, environment and cognition” (Ortega, 2013, 9).
ReplyDeleteOrtega, L. (2013). Understanding second language acquisition. London: Routledge.
Hi Jordin, thanks for your comment! I think the problem with language learning services like Duolingo is that it does not have any naturalistic experiences. I think speaking with people in the new language as you learn it is an extremely important aspect of learning the language. You’re processing the new language in your head as you listen and speak, and are using it in real-life contexts. In an ideal world, I would love to go to a Spanish-speaking country to learn Spanish through immersion, but then I would have to continue using it after I returned in order to maintain it.
DeleteHi Lauren, I totally agree when you said that apps like Duolingo don’t have a naturalistic experience. It’s just like the woman from the reading who went to Egypt and picked up on the language after a few years. She was fluent in the language they speak and it was like she was a native. I would love to experience going to other countries to learn their language and cultures.
DeleteHi Lauren! I really enjoyed watching your video. I really agree that teaching all subjects is really great. It definitely helps the teacher to connect all subjects and help make learning meaningful. In my video I also spoke about communicating with students in the bilingual classes. There is that frustration of being able to only communicate a few words rather than have a full conversation. According to Ortega, second language acquisition "studies a wide variety of complex influences and phenomena that contribute to the puzzling range of possible outcomes when learning an additional language in a variety of contexts" (Ortega,2013,p.2). I think it is great that you have a student in your class who is going through the complex process of second language acquisition, because it is giving you an opportunity to learn more about this process.
ReplyDeleteOrtega, L. (2013). Understanding second language acquisition. London: Routledge.
Hi Rachel, thanks for your comment! Yes, I am excited to see the progression of my new student. So far, she has been with us for about 3 weeks and she is becoming more comfortable in the classroom. She came into our class knowing her numbers, alphabet, and basic words, but she rarely spoke. Now, I have noticed her speaking more with me and my mentor teacher and participating in whole group activities. I’m interested to see her progression between now and the end of the school year.
DeleteHi Lauren! I’m currently student teaching in a 5th grade classroom and can attest to
ReplyDeleteThe fact that it’s difficult
For students to stay in a “learning mode” when switching from classroom to Classroom. Ideally, I’d love to teach kinder-3rd in a self Contained classroom. I think it makes for easier transitions between subjects and gives us the flexibility to Integrate ALL subjects. I think it’s amazing that you are taking the time to learn new languages to expand your language learning. It’s so much more difficult, as adults, to internalize and learn new language because we have already layed an English foundation for our language learning. I think even memorizing ad practicing enough words to help you communicate with your students is amazing!
Hi Vivianne, thanks for your comment! I hope you have the opportunity to work in a self-contained classroom as well, I think you would do a great job! In my future classroom, I want to minimize the disconnect between subjects. Such as using the same book for ELA and science or social studies, to build off prior knowledge. I agree that it is more difficult to learn new languages as adults. Because of this, it is important to stay consistent with our learning and practice using it with others who speak the language. Naturalistic experiences are key to becoming confident with it.
DeleteHi Lauren! I liked listening to your video. I could relate to a lot of what you were mentioning when it comes to communicating with some of my students. I have a few ESL students in my class that only speak English when they are in MY class, at school. When they are home, they speak Spanish with their family, so it makes communicating quite hard. I, for one, do not know any Spanish but I would like to one day. With time, I feel that our students will become better communicators. According to Ortega, "participants in a study did best in the language they were more actively and consistently using in daily activities", and this can relate to how much English they are hearing in the classroom. If we are patient and give them different tools to learn English by exposing them to different words, it will become easier for them in class (2013, p. 26).
ReplyDeleteOrtega, L. (2013). Understanding second language acquisition. London: Routledge.
Hi Savannah, thanks for your comment! I like the quote you used from Ortega, how people do better in activities when they use the language they are more familiar with. This is eye-opening, because, according to the quote, our students who are not using the language they are more familiar with for activities, they are not going to do their best. It’s important to know this as teachers because it helps us understand where our students are coming from and how to best support them in our classroom.
Delete