A Guide for Classroom Teachers - Education

More documents

Recommendations

Info

12 12 • ESL students learn English better when there is a meaningful and purposeful context for communication, and a holistic approach to instruction is used. Research and experience have shown that studying language in “bits and pieces” is not a very effective way of learning it. • English language proficiency and knowledge of Canadian culture are important for the success of students. Supported integration of ESL learners into age-appropriate classes is the ideal. ESL students cannot afford to wait until they have fully mastered the language to pursue their development in other spheres. • There are clear educational benefits to maintaining a students’s first language(s): student learning is enhanced by judicious use of two or more languages. • To facilitate learning, students should wherever possible see their history, literature, and cultural experiences in general reflected in the classroom. • Parents play a vital role in the education of their children by working in partnership with educators. • Effective reporting should recognize language and cultural differences. ESL ESL Learners: Learners: A A Guide Guide for for Classroom Classroom Teachers Teachers
Identification Although it is frequently obvious which students require ESL services (and thus qualify as ESL for funding purposes), this is not always true. It is sometimes difficult to recognize that second language support is needed by students who speak English as a second dialect or students who already have acquired some communicative competence in English. With very young students too, the need for ESL support is not always evident, partly because rates and patterns of early development can vary significantly from one student to another, and partly because an accurate assessment of a student’s English language proficiency needs to take account of all language modes (listening, speaking, reading, writing). Some ESL students can display a reasonable command of oral English as they enter school, only to experience difficulties as reading and writing are introduced. With others, the frustration of being unable to cope with limitations that language difficulties can impose may manifest itself in the form of behavioural problems. The challenge for the teacher is to recognize that these difficulties may be indicative of a need for ESL support rather than of a real learning disability or behavioural disorder. In the course of learning a new language, comprehension often precedes production. Beginner ESL students may initially be silent for a period, as they listen and internalize. Indications that a student requires ESL support usually emerge from the kinds of formative assessment that classroom teachers are able to undertake. Teachers who use varied approaches to performance assessment will usually recognize when students are having difficulty with language-dependent activities. For more information on approaches that can be used to expand their repertoire of assessment strategies, 3 teachers are advised to consult the following documents published by the Ministry of Education as part of the Assessment Handbooks Series: • Performance Assessment (XX0246) • Portfolio Assessment (XX0247) • Student-Centred Conferencing (XX0248) • Student Self-Assessment (XX0249) 3 see also O’Malley, J. Michael & Lorraine Valdez Pierce, Authentic Assessment for English Language Learners: Practical Approaches for Teachers, (Toronto: Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., 1996) ESL ESL Learners: Learners: A A Guide Guide for for Classroom Classroom Teachers Teachers 13 13
Page 1 and 2: English as a Second Language Learne
Page 3 and 4: Table of Contents Introduction ....
Page 5 and 6: Introduction Students for whom Engl
Page 7 and 8: Adjustment Challenges Facing ESL St
Page 9 and 10: Perceived Behaviour Possible Cultur
Page 11: The Nature of ESL Programming ESL s
Page 15 and 16: produced standardized tests may be
Page 17 and 18: Instructional Tips and Strategies E
Page 19 and 20: this, rephrase it so that ESL stude
Page 21 and 22: ➤ establish a supportive environm
Page 23 and 24: • the parents’ or guardians’
Page 25 and 26: It may help to keep in mind that th
Page 27 and 28: Date: Teacher(s): First language or
Page 29 and 30: Characteristics of Students’ Read
Page 31 and 32: The Role of the ESL Specialist The
Page 33 and 34: * Collier, Virginia. “How long: A
Page 35: In addition, the ministry extends i

A Guide for Classroom Teachers - Education

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?