Examining Teaching through a New Lens: Learning about English Language

As a future educator, I tend to find myself wondering about my students. I think about the challenges that may arise and the tasks that I will need to accomplish. I know that there will be many joys and rewarding times during teaching; I also recognize the potential struggles. I wanted to make my focus for this paper a learning experience. I wanted to dive into information on a topic that I was unsure of and learn more about how to handle it. I aimed to find information about ELL, English language learner, students and how I could assist them in the classroom. My Topic and What I Already Knew about My Topic I will explain in this section why I wanted to research within the topic of ELL students. I will also provide my past knowledge and experiences that include being with ELL students due to my observation in a public school for my F200 class. The few weeks I spent observing shed a new light on the subject for me. Topic Choice I decided to focus my research on the topic of ELL students. I knew that understanding ELL students would be important to my future. I knew that it would be critical to find out information on ELL students because I only speak English. I wanted to know what I could do as these students’ teacher to help them learn as much as possible. Past Knowledge and Experience If you would have asked me about ELL students any time prior to this year, I would have not been able to tell you one thing about them. I honestly never had the thought of having to teach a student who spoke a different language than me. I grew up in a small, rural town with all English speaking students. I never saw my teachers faced with the dilemma of having a different language spoken in the classroom. Not being exposed to ELL studen... ...eb.b.ebscohost.com English language learners. (2013). Retrieved from https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator_cgf.asp Ernst-Slavit, G., Moore, M., & Maloney, C. (2002). Changing lives: teaching English and literature to ESL students. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 46(2), 116-128. Retrieved from http://web.b.ebscohost.com Goldenberg, C. (2008). Teaching English language learners. American Educator, 32(2), 8-44. Retrieved from http://www.aft.org/pdfs/americaneducator/summer2008/goldenberg.pdf Heining-Boynton, A. L. (n.d.). Keys to success for English language learners. Retrieved from http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/760 Vacca-Rizopoulos, L. A., & Nicoletti, A. (2009). Preservice teachers’ reflections on effective strategies for teaching Latino ESL students. Journal of Latinos and Education, 8(1), 67-76. Retrieved from http://web.b.ebscohost.com