L400/500 Instructional Issues in Language Learning

Aleshia S. Bilingualism: speaking and understanding two or more languages.           At some point in our lives, we've heard of the term bilingual. Even though we may not have understood exactly what it meant. Random thought: why is it when we hear the term 'bilingual' now, we automatically think about knowing Spanish and English? I know I'm guilty of this mindset as well.  When I was growing up, I don't remember really hearing other people speak anything other than English. When I was in 6th grade, I had a Spanish teacher by the name of Mr. Burns who was Black and could speak and understand Spanish like it was his primary language! I was like            As a 12 year old who had never heard a different language being spoken before, and to see a Black man who was so fluent in another language, was truly mind-blowing to me. It was in sixth grade that I fell in love with the language of Spanish. I didn't know the c...

The Ideal World: Bilingualism In Chapter 4 of Educating Emergent Bilinguals, it explain through multiple studies why bilingualism works best for Emergent Bilinguals. In the readings, it mentions why this is not always the case. Since Bilingualism is not the typical route for English Language Learners and they are often put into an ESL program or transitional program, I am going to explore how we can use these practices in our content area classes. How can we use these practices in our content classes, based on our readings: Claude Goldenberg provides us with these 3 steps: “General effective practices are likely to be effective with ELs" “ELs require traditional instructional supports”  “The home language can be used to promote academic development” (Goldenberg 5) Jimenez, David, Pacheco, Risko, Pray, Fagan, and Gonzales provide these tips: Teachers need to teach their content in a way that they are able to understand Teachers working with ELs should com...

As I sit here trying to get my thoughts together, one of my students is messaging me on Instagram, basically saying.... Brandon....focus. Okay, I'm back. Close your eyes... I remember my first day of Second grade. The bus stop was right outside my apartment, so my mom watched from the screen door as I skipped along the sidewalk up to the Main Office, where we were told to wait for the bus to arrive. It was a cool breeze out and I was stoked! Not only was I starting at a brand new school, but I had my fancy lunch box and new shoes on. This guy was ready! When I got on the bus, I sat in my seat and watched the scenery pass by as the journey began. When I finally arrived to my class, there were so many new faces, welcoming, and people I just couldn't wait to befriend. My teacher was an older woman, with White hair, and she was the best. My day was going to be perfect. I went throughout my day, learning new things, not having a care in the world. Then...recess. I w...

When we were told that we would be contributing to a blog, my outside said, “I’ve got this.” My inside, however, said this: So, here goes….. We have covered a variety of issue so far in class, and it is difficult to write about just one, but I was especially intrigued when Delpit (2003) discussed the value of storytelling (p. 57). Perhaps, it is because have been documenting my genetic history, and when there is talk of a relative, it is typically accompanied by a story. As, I stopped at my mother’s house to ask her a few questions, I listened to her speak to me in English, switch to Friulan for her best friend who called her, and then finally in Italian to my sister. It made me acutely aware of my own literacy journey and how different all of our journeys are. It also made me wish that my mother was more confident about her speaking skills when she ventured out of the comfort of her home. To understand my literacy journey, however, it is important to know that...