As Educators...We Can Show Em’ Better Than We Can Tell Em’!!!
As Educators...We Can Show Em’ Better Than We Can Tell Em’!!!
February 14, 2018
Tiffany
Growing up, my mother would always say, “I can show him better than I can tell him” when referencing to my father. My father was from Jamaica and had been in the states only a mere 5 years when they first met and had the honor of creating the “amazing me”! There was a language and cultural barrier between them. Just because they both had a brown skin tone didn’t mean they both spoke the same language. When my mother would take the time to actually show my father what she was trying to convey, there were less arguments and misunderstandings. When a person has not been raised during pivotal times in their lives in the country they are a part of in their adult lives, they tend to misunderstand and misinterpret situations that they find themselves involved in like my father. The same can be said about our country’s ELL students in our schools in today’s society.
According to the article, “What Teachers Need To Know about Language” there are 5 functions an educator needs to learn more about language than most teacher educations programs provide.
1. Teacher as Communicator
- “In a diverse society of ours, teachers must be prepared to work with children from many different cultural, social, and linguistic backgrounds. Many students in an average school are learning English as a second language, and understanding the course of second language acquisition (including such matters as what sorts of mistakes they are likely to make and how much progress can be expected in a unit of time) helps teachers communicate with them more effectively” (pg. 7).
2. Teacher as Educator
- “Teachers play a critical role in supporting language development. Beyond teaching children to read and write in school, they need to help children learn and use aspects of language associated with the academic discourse of the various school subjects” (pg. 8)
3. Teacher as Evaluator
- “To make valid judgments about students’ abilities, teachers also need to understand the different sources of variation in language use” (pg. 10).
4. Teacher as Educated Human Being
- “Throughout the United States, there is a real need for research knowledge about language teaching and learning and about other issues of language in education, and for educational leadership to ensure that this knowledge is widely shared” (pg. 11).
5. Teacher as Agent of Socialization
- “In fact, what teachers say and do can determine how successfully children make the crucial transition from home to school. It can determine whether children move successfully into the world of the school and larger society as fully participating members or get shunted onto sidetracks that distance them from family, society, and the world of learning” (pg. 12).
QUESTIONS....
1. Of the 5 functions an educator needs to learn more about language, which function do you feel is most important to have as an educator or future educator?
2. In today’s world of education, what are ways that a teacher can show and relate to students in order to help the language barriers they have become smaller?
Once a teacher can hone in on the 5 functions an educator needs to learn more about language it becomes much easier for the teacher to incorporate the theory and practice of Content Based Instruction (CBI) into the classroom. With this approach, it combines language with everyday learning and allows the teacher to “show” what is expected of the student instead of “telling” the student what is expected of them. Had my father had CBI services before he transitioned into American society from Jamaica, I feel as though he would have made a smoother transition into the world of language.
Please take a quick look at the questions above and take the time to ask yourself...Would an adult benefit from Content Based Instruction outside of the classroom and in the real world?
Wow, I loved your last questions. It really got me thinking.
ReplyDeleteWhat is content?
While we mostly think of content as the different classes that are taught in school, I think it is interesting that you asked what is content in regards to an adult. As an adult, content examples could be filing your taxes, going to the doctor, or getting an oil change. There is vocabulary in these instances that are more uncommon and have more technical definitions.
Would an adult benefit from Content Based Instruction outside of the classroom and in the real world?
Absolutely, not only an ELL, but also a majority of our population. I can only imagine what an adult emergent bilingual would be going through in any of these instances and I think they could greatly benefit from Content Based Instruction.
It makes me think, are there any programs in place like this or any programs similar that help Adult Emergent Bilinguals?
I actually did a simple google search for programs for emergent bilingual adults in Indiana and found this
Deletehttp://wcc.warren.k12.in.us/article/87463?org=Adult%20and%20Community%20Education It is ESL classes offered at the Walker Career Center for free, although there is a $30 placement test and photo ID is required. It says that, "Non-native speakers will improve their ability to understand, read, write and speak the English language. Students will discuss ways of living in our American culture." So I wonder what they talk about in the American culture and if any of the things you touched on like how to file taxes is even a part of this program?
MaryBeth
DeleteI too agree that an adult would truly benefit from content based instruction outside of the classroom as well. My father would have gained a better insight about the American world around him had he had some of these services. I had no clue about the ELL classes offered at the Walker Career Center in Warren Township. I would love for these services to be more publicly announced and offered. It may be easy for us as American citizens to research these programs offered but what about a person who is not an American citizen and new to our country as an adult? They wouldn't know the first steps to take in order to better themselves and that saddens me. I feel that if these services are offered to the adults as well as the school aged students, the adults would be better to help their children(student) transition in schools better.
I am trying to differentiate Content Based Instruction for adults from English for Specific Purposes. There are organizations like ICIC who conduct needs analyses for businesses and develop specific language plans to help employees who are Emergent Bilinguals achieve success in their work places. For example, if a business employed someone who had a difficult time following or articulating instructions, the Center would examine what specific language needs someone in their position would need, and classes that focused on those needs would ensue. In that way, content-based instruction would be incredibly helpful. I am not sure how it could be used in the classroom. Perhaps, it could be based around the language students have to use on a daily basis to get from point A to point B.
ReplyDeleteI love this! You always provide such amazing resources that are always super helpful! ICIC sounds like an incredible organization! Also, I really like your idea to use it in the classroom! That is very smart!
DeleteI am glad you find my resources helpful! I often feel a bit lost recommending resources when I have never taught in an elementary setting. Ulla Connor heads the ICIC, and she is pretty amazing. Google her name and you'll see why! They have also conducted research on providing patients with clearer instructions on medications that hospitals are using. It is a pretty amazing, and you can probably find several articles about their research. Also, I know that IUPUI has a PIE program that helps NNES. If I remember correctly, this program provides intense, short instruction, and it often targets people in business or academia who have specific language needs. Often, these people are here for just a short time before they return to their countries.
DeleteFirst I want to say that I enjoyed your blog and the questions you raised. To me, the most important function we have as educators is the Teacher as Educator. i picked this one specifically with emergent bilingual students in mind because I feel is few we can do this effectively the students will have an easier transition into their new language. Since they won't be receiving the message that hey this is how you have to speak, and your way is inferior, like I did, but they will learn that language has purpose. Which that idea to me is way more important and benefits in many ways, especially in writing and oral speaking. I think that one way a teacher can relate with students is being sincere and genuine, if you don't know ask and be willing to learn more and being comfortable with that fact that you don't know or understand everything, but you want to learn more.
ReplyDeleteAlexis,
DeleteI too chose Teacher as Educator because I feel that this is where it all begins. It is our duty as educators to take the time to teach our youth who need the guidance to move forward and grow. Growing and learning go hand in hand. To be educated is to learn and to learn is to grow. I too agree that if our ELL students can understand that language has purpose their educational journeys will include more enrichment that will allow them to grow. Understanding a topic is far more rewarding than just assuming the student understands what they are learning.
Tiffany,
ReplyDeleteGreat blog! Thank you for sharing a part of your family's story!
Oh gosh! Your question really got me thinking! I think it is so hard to choose just one function as an educator. But, after some thought I think that Teacher as Educator and Teacher as Communicator are the most important in my opinion. Teacher as Educator is so important because it is so important that you are aware of your students educational needs and are working your hardest to meet their needs! This will involve a lot of time and probably research. I know that I will want to create assignments that will benefit my ENL students on their language journey. This will involve a lot of projects and assignments using my students home language. This is why I also think that Teacher as Communicator is just as important because I am going to constantly need to connect with my ENL students. I want to make sure they feel secure in what they are doing and they feel comfortable enough with me to address their concerns and struggles. I want to keep the lines of communication very open!
Taylor,
DeleteI too chose Teacher as Educator but didn't think too much about Teacher as Communicator until you brought it up. You are exactly right with including Teacher as Communicator because if there is no ground work of communication set it may be hard for the Teacher as Educator to truly reach the student and find progress. It is important to keep the educational lines of communication open in order for the student to understand what is expected of them in the learning process. Not only is it important to keep the lines of communication open it is also important to listen as well as teach/lecture.
Tiffany, I think they all work collaboratively, but I agree that Teacher as Educator stands out as a primary function. I also think that Teacher as Evaluator is an important element, as it is important for an educator to have positive attitudes and both high and realistic expectations. A teacher needs to see all their students as able to learn. The attitudes held by educators can be quickly be assessed by students.
DeleteTaylor,
DeleteI agree with you! I also picked teacher as educator. I think it's important because I believe in order for the students to get the material, you have to be a good teacher. I also believed that teacher as communicator was important because you need to be able to communicate to your students and also communicate to other teachers as well. I believe that you also need to find a way that you can communicate to a student that english isn't their first language.
Taylor, I agree with you and Tiffany! I did not give teacher as a communicator much thought. And now it does make more sense since you brought it up. I think as teachers we need to educate ourselves as much as we can when it comes to students with diverse backgrounds. Not only does it benefit students who need more communication to understand but it sets teachers up to provide more quality education to help them succeed. Lines of communication open is important and without that students can feel out of place!
DeleteHey Tiffany!
ReplyDeleteI like how you compared the "I can show you better than I can teach you" concept to your own parents. That concept is definitely critical when it comes to ELL students because they heavily rely on pictures or visual representations.
The question of "which function do you feel is most important to have as an educator or future educator?" is definitely a conundrum. It's almost as if an educator should encompass all of them. I would think, personally, that teacher as educator is important. I say that because a teacher can educate a child....the whole child. An educator not only teaches the required curriculum, but teaches about things that impact the students.
A question I have is do you think there is a difference between a teacher and an educator?
Aleshia,
DeleteI do feel as though there is a difference between a teacher and an educator because you can teach an individual something that does not pertain to education but you can most certainly educate someone on something that they know will better and benefit them when education is concerned in the long run. You've got my hamsters on a wheel just a moving and moving.
Tiffany,
ReplyDeleteI really like this blog post because it gives us as teachers a lot to think about. I would like to touch on your question about which function would best serve or help us as educator or future educators. I am not yet an educator, but I believe that all functions are important. I will focus on function number 4 for this post. I believe that teachers should have all of the background knowledge about language, especially the one they use in every day teachings in order to fully educate their students. This is important as a teacher because languages are not all about grammar and punctuation but about the history and connections that languages have together. The more teachers know about languages, the more they can deepen the thinking and knowledge of their students and even educator peers.
Casey,
DeleteTeachers having a background knowledge when language is concerned is definitely a toss up where education is concerned. I feel as though many teachers misinterpret the fact that they have experience and background knowledge where ELL education and experience is concerned but that certainly is not the end all be all to the subject matter. I do agree with you when you address the fact that language is not all about grammar and punctuation but I feel it is up to us as educators and future educators to impress the importance of educating oneself on a cultural turf that is unfamiliar and different.
Tiffany,
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the teacher as an agent of socialization is the most impactful. This role can be instrumental in setting the students up for success years after they participate in our classes. When teachers can teach students to navigate the tricky circumstances of our society they can plant a seed that will guide them years down the road.
I think we can CBI use this to really help students navigate society. For example, in my economics class when we learn about taxation I have the students fill-out a 1040ez like they are filing a tax return. Perhaps, I can find a translation of the form in order to allow the students to make use of CBI to wrap their minds around the content. Thanks for the post!
Thank you for sharing a little bit about yourself and your family! I think, for me, the Agent of Socialization is so important. This particular role is all encompassing and really requires an advanced level of relationship-building, empathy, and connectedness. The classroom and the school itself are not only places of instruction and curriculum, but also locations for social justice and social change. These can be catapulted into implementation if the teacher is connected with the issues/concerns of their students. It makes me think of Audacious Hope (Dr. Jeffrey Duncan-Andrade) and the necessity of sharing experiences with our students so they know it's real.
ReplyDeleteHi Tiffany. Great blog. In regards to your question about which 5 functions of the teacher are most important, the one that stood out the most to me in the reading was Agent of Socialization. When we all met online I mentioned I feel it is so important because I do not feel that all teachers always go the extra mile to build those relationships like Brandon mentioned above. Even reading through your blog and your father's experiences and some of the comments/resources presented from our peers, I see a theme of recognizing the importance of students, especially ELLs, to be supported even beyond the classroom. To me, Agent of Socialization really seems to speak to that. If teachers can support students inside of the classroom in the capacity that this function does, those students can go out into the real world and be better prepared and even know how to get the support they need. I believe it prepares students to be critical thinkers and just aware of the world we live in.
ReplyDeleteHi Tiffany! I think teacher as an educator is most important to me! I believe that teachers need to recognize where students are developmentally in order to meet their needs and creating experiences that still supports their background/culture. But I also think teacher as agent of socialization has good intention. It’s necessary for teachers to go beyond academic content. We would want students to feel safe and comfortable inside andddd outside of schools. But we all know that doesn’t happen. So, giving the tools students need for when they do go out into the real world is important.
ReplyDelete