2012 Issue - Ontario Modern Language Teachers

Resource
Reviews
e
Talking to Learn
50 Strategies for Developing
Oral Language
Authors: Jennifer Glass,
Joan Green and Kathy
Gould-Lundy
Those who know me and know about
my curiosity and passion for early learning
and developing language skills will
smile in recognition when I share the
opening quote in this marvelous work:
“Reading and writing float on a sea of
talk.”-James Britton. Jennifer, Joan
and Kathy had me right there. Actually,
they had me when I saw their names as
authors; they had me at the title. With
confidence that this would be a valuable
resource for any educator working
with students developing language
skills, I began the page turner that does
not disappoint. Please join me in an
over-view of this work which recognizes
and informs that “Oral language acquisition
is a natural process for children of
all languages and in all cultures.” (p 7)
One of the things that Talking to Learn
accomplishes for educators specifically
of FSL, is the bridging of the professional
learning and the professional
conversation around student learning
no matter what the language of instruction.
“Talking to Learn roots student
progress in collaboration and talk,
recognizing these elements as vehicles
by which students learn to explore,
analyze, refine, and conclude.” (p 13)
Elizabeth Coelho is quoted in chapter
one with practical suggestions for guidance
teachers can offer, particularly for
ELL-English Language Learners. They
make complete sense for students of
FSL also.
Elmore’s studies in education remind us
that “we learn about the work by doing
the work.” It seems reasonable, then,
that a language is learned by using the
language…rather than by learning about
the language. The authors provoke
thinking early on by raising: “It is a
rather perverse irony that adults, and
parents in particular, watch with awe
and admiration as children learn to walk
and talk. Yet, when these same children
arrive in school, they are frequently
expected to sit down and pay singleminded
attention to adult talk!” (p 7)
Having provoked our thinking, authors
Jennifer Glass, Joan Green and Kathy
Gould-Lundy support our next step
instructional decisions with researched
based, Ontario curriculum rooted strategies-50
of them, in fact! The strength
in this collection of 50 is the fact that
they’re tried and true; strategies are
clearly explained and accompanied
by modeling of what does it look like/
what does it sound like; including
photographs, quotes, and a sprinkling of
templates to support implementation.
Talking to Learn prompts thinking and
nurtures professional judgment in the
following foundations:
• Development of oral language as a
precursor to literacy development for
all students
• Inclusive classrooms where all
students benefit from dialogue and
activity based on respect and
reciprocity
• Teachers’ powerful instructional
insights and strategies to connect
students’ interests and experiences
• Encouragement for students as they
learn to explain their thinking and
share their feelings
• Opportunities for use of a rich variety
of technological resources to support
student inquiry and engagement
• Valuing the development of English
language learners’ strengths in first
language as support for developing
proficiency of additional language.
(p.9)
Happy Reading! Bonne lecture! And best
wishes for co-learning with students
who are Talking to Learn.
by Sharon McNamara-Trevisan
Branchez-vous
e 17
Open Doors...Open Minds /
Portes ouvertes...
Esprits ouverts!
http://languagesopenthedoor.afmlta.
asn.au/
Languages Open the Door to a Bigger
World – this site offers the following
links in order to investigate languages:
Promotional Materials, Languages Advocacy,
Languages Champions, Supporter
Organisations, About the Project.
Why It’s Smart to Be Bilingual – read
this article published in Newsweek April
2011.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2011/08/07/why-it-s-smart-tobe-bilingual.html
http://www.llas.ac.uk/resourcedownloads/6063/700_reasons.pdf
Seven hundred reasons for studying
languages by Angela Gallagher-Brett
from Languages Linguistics Area Studies
(LLAS).
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/
story/2012/01/03/f-vp-ross-language.
html
The secret to learning languages – Tips
from the polyglots: Find out how your
brain works by Colleen Ross, CBC News
posted Jan 3, 2012.
http://www.omniglot.com/language/
index.htm
Language learning tips contains a collection
of advice, suggestions, tips and
techniques for learning languages.