Entry One: Introduction
Hi there! ¡Hola! Salut! My name is Alexander Iglesias, and I am now a senior at the University of Houston. I am currently majoring in Teaching & Learning with an EC-6 certification, in hopes of becoming a 3rd grade teacher.
As you will see in my video, I do speak three different languages - English, Spanish and French. Growing up I lived in a Spanish speaking household in which Spanish was the only language I spoke. Both of my parents are native to Spanish speaking countries, so they did not learn English until they immigrated here to the United States. This being said, I was not exposed to English as much until I started going to public school. Once in public school, I was labeled an ELL and an ESL student. It wasn’t until recently when I read Wright’s Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners, that I learned that I had more than just two labels. During my elementary years, I was in bilingual classes in which I was taught both my native language of Spanish and my new found language of English. According to Wright, this would have made me an emergent bilingual. “Emergent bilingual label emphasizes that a fundamental goal of language education programs should be to help students attain high levels of proficiency in their home languages and English” (Wright, 2015). This description of emergent bilingual describes me perfectly as the programs I was in would teach me proper Spanish, but also teach me English simultaneously, which in itself contains another label - simultaneous bilingual. “[Simultaneous bilingualism] may apply to newcomer ELLs who already speak the language or languages of their home country but then start to learn English as a new language at school” (Wring, 2015). This was exactly what I went through as a child. I was raised speaking only Spanish until I entered school and began to learn English.
Considering I grew up an ELL student, I could go on about the labels and descriptors that pertain to me from our textbook, which amazes me. After reading chapter one, I have already learned so much about who and what English Language Learners are but most surprisingly I have learned so much about myself that I didn’t know. This being said, I am more than excited to continue on with this course and gain more knowledge of what it means to be a bilingual student.
References:
Wright, Wayne (2015). Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners: Research, Theory, Policy, and Practice. Philadelphia, PA: Caslon, Second Edition.
Hello Alexander! First off, I loved watching your introduction video! I really feel as though I not only got to see how detailed and organized you are by the content in your video, but I also really got to know you and your family. In your blog post, you mentioned the fact that you are multilingual, which is very cool and interesting. Because you grew up in a Spanish speaking household, I believe that you will really be able to empathize with some of your future ELL and ESL students. If some of them begin to have challenges grasping some of the material being taught in your classroom, I'm sure they will definitely notice and appreciate having a teacher that understands their struggles. In your video, something else you discussed that stood out to me was when you said that teachers need to be understanding and supportive when it comes to giving aid to their ELL's. According to Wright it is important for "teachers to identify appropriate supplemental education materials for use in the classroom, such as (or bilingual picture) dictionaries and fiction and nonfiction books in the students' home languages..."(p.24). Teachers need to make sure that they have an open mind and provide education materials and resources that are suitable for both English speaking students, and those that are still learning the language. I believe your idea about educators providing understanding and support coincide with the ideas of Wright's because it all has to do with teachers having an open mind and doing what is best for his or her students, even though it may be different or out of their norm.
ReplyDeleteWright, Wayne. Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners: Research, Theory, Policy, and Practice. Philadelphia, PA: Caslon, 2015. Print. Second Edition .
Hi there, Jada! Thanks for your comment! I completely agree with you when you mention that teachers need to be open minded and be able to provide educational resources that are suitable for all students. I believe that many teachers often forget that they are ALL language teachers regardless of certification or language experience. Wright mentions that “it is essential that content teaches also provide the types of language instruction typically provided by language teachers” (Wright, 2015, p.60). We as educators cannot restrict ourselves simply because we are not labeled a certain kind of teacher. Like you said, it is important for a teacher to do what is best for their students even if it is out of their norm. Thanks again for your comment!
DeleteReferences:
Wright, Wayne (2015). Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners: Research, Theory, Policy, and Practice. Philadelphia, PA: Caslon, Second Edition.
Hello Alexander,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I love the amount of work that went into your vlog. It was very high quality and enjoyable.
It was interesting to hear that even though you grew up in Houston, you were still raised in a primarily Spanish household and English being your second language. From what I saw, your parents most definitely care about your success as they not only helped you learn Spanish and English, but French as well. A lot of household in the US don’t have that opportunity, as wright says on page 11: “Students may vary widely in their oral proficiency and literacy skills in their home languages. Many ELLs may speak a variety of their home language that differs from the standard variety. In addition, ELLs will typically have literacy skills in their home language only if they have had the opportunity to learn to read and write them in school…” and it is nice to see that your family helped you maintain being bilingual, something I was not able to do.
Wright, Wayne. Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners: Research, Theory, Policy, and Practice. Philadelphia, PA: Caslon, 2015. Print. Second Edition.
Hi there, Rusty! Thanks for your comment and kind words! I am very grateful that my parents pushed their native language onto me. As I grew older and English became my primary language, my parents still pushed Spanish onto me and made sure I would never forget “where I came from.” Interesting enough, their biggest fear was mention in chapter one of our textbook. They feared that as I was learning English in the classroom I would eventually “abandon my home language and culture” due to the cultural differences in the classroom (Wright, 2015, p.19). Although they wanted me to fit in and learn all about the American culture they never wanted me to drop my native language. They wanted me to still be able to speak to my grandparents and the rest of my family who live outside the states. For that, I am forever grateful and will make sure that my ELL students never abandon their home language simply because of the difference in cultures we have in our classrooms.
DeleteReferences:
Wright, Wayne (2015). Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners: Research, Theory, Policy, and Practice. Philadelphia, PA: Caslon, Second Edition.
Hey Alexander,
DeleteI also grew up in a household where my parents and family worried that I would forget the Spanish language and not incorporate traditional things from the Mexican culture into my life. I am grateful that I never did and incorporate it into my cooking, my interests, and in my everyday life. I appreciate so much that my teachers incorporated parts of my culture into the classroom. I also really like that I was allowed to use both languages to have a better understanding when learning. (Wright, 2015, pg. 21)
Wright, Wayne (2015). Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners: Research, Theory, Policy, and Practice. Philadelphia, PA: Caslon, Second Edition.
Hey Carolina! Thanks for the reply! I find it very interesting how you mention that your teachers incorporated parts of your culture in the classroom. I’m wondering if they also let you speak Spanish in their classrooms, because Wright mentions that many teachers often “feel reluctant to allow students to use any of their home language in the classroom” (Wright, 2015, p.59). Instead, Wright says that teachers should look at language teaching from a dynamic bilingual perspective thus, “providing students with a legitimized means of performing desired identities as bilingual Latinos” (Wright, 2015, p.59). It seems to me that your teachers taught more with a dynamic bilingual perspective, which I am very glad you got to experience that! This would have allowed you to get a better understanding of both languages while you were learning in her classroom.
DeleteReferences:
Wright, Wayne (2015). Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners: Research, Theory, Policy, and Practice. Philadelphia, PA: Caslon, Second Edition.
Alex,
ReplyDeleteI also speak English, Spanish, and French! Like you, my first language was Spanish, I learned English in school, and took four years of French in high school. My French is mostly gone because I have not practiced it since I graduated high school in 2016. However, My best friend is currently getting her minor in French so maybe I will get to practice with her like you practice with your family.
As far as teaching English language learners I agree that the best teachers will always keep an open mind about what each individual student is going through and they will do whatever is in their power in order to help their students. This play a big part in being a teacher as an agent of socialization. As Wright (2015) notes, the most effective way of helping students transition and adapt is by respecting their home languages and cultures. Overall we must be aware and respectful of the backgrounds and histories of our students. By doing so, we will allow them to feel safe as they go through the obstacles many ELL students face in their lives.
Wright, W. E. (2015). Foundations for teaching English language learners: Research, theory,
policy, and practice (2nd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Caslon Publishing.
Hi Cecilia! Thanks so much for your comment! I hope you do end up being able to practice your French with your friend and strengthen your abilities as a multilingual. I find it really interesting how you mention that we as educators must be aware and respectful of the backgrounds and histories of our students. This is so true, and often many educators forget that not every student will learn and react the same to the English language. In chapter two, Wright mentions how many students will learn to speak English at home and learn to speak “regional or nonstandard varieties of English,” meaning that it might not conform to our “standard English.” Although this could be the case for some students, “teachers need to understand that these non-standard varieties are not bad English” (Wright, 2015, p.38). Instead we need to be open minded and be able to teach without deeming our students to have “poor language skills.” We as educators always need to be sensitive to our students background and histories especially when language is involved. Thanks again for your comment!
DeleteReferences:
Wright, Wayne (2015). Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners: Research, Theory, Policy, and Practice. Philadelphia, PA: Caslon, Second Edition.
Hello Alexander,
ReplyDeleteYou Vblog was so well put together and articulate. Having experience as an ELL student will give you an amazing insight into what your ELL students are experiencing, both academically and socially. Having this understanding about bilingualism will greatly serve you are a teacher to your students (p. 39, Wright).
Myself having struggled with emersion in a new language, I really valued your different perspective to emersion as a way to teach language. I think our differences in opinion really speaks to the many ways that people can experience learning.
I would be interested to know, do you also read and write in Spanish and English? I would also like to say that i loved the tribute to your parents as they have given you an amazing gift in exposing you to so many different languages.
Have a great semester!
Wright, Wayne (2015). Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners: Research, Theory, Policy, and Practice. Philadelphia, PA: Caslon, Second Edition.