Observation Of ESL Student Learning

After taking time to reflect on observations done, it seems as though there are many accommodations and strategies teachers can use in order to facilitate ESL student learning. In Joplin, Mo many of the schools have been rebuilt due to one of the largest tornados in recorded history destroying much of the town. This brought about a huge change in the Joplin’s education system as funds poured into rebuilding the schools bigger and better than they were before. However, these funds did not just go into construction. The schools in Joplin put a lot of resources into instructional tools; which as it turns out are very beneficial for ESL students. After observing ESL students in kindergarten, second, fourth, and fifth the grade in their general …show more content…
Beezley had a wonderful connection with all of his students including the little girl without the ability to speak English. The way the teacher was able to communicate with her was with a translation app on his phone and nonverbal communication. The app give the teacher the ability to type out what he wants to say, then it audibly translates what was typed into the little girls’ language. When she is ready to reply she verbally speaks into the microphone and it translates it into English for the teacher. This allows both to communicate thoughts, questions, and needs. The classroom desks were placed in groups of four which allowed students to discuss what they were doing. Though the student without English skills was the only one in her group with a different first language, she was allowed to get up and sit next to others with the same first language while working on assignments. This gave the student language support as well as the ability to observe and apply what she saw done by her peers to her own work. The teacher also made sure that he read aloud all directions and used physical gestures and images to help build student understanding and signal transition from one lesson to another. This helped all of his ESL students build connections and put context to lessons and …show more content…
One thing that could be done is to help students build connection to lessons; which would help students develop the motivation needed to be fully engaged in the lessons. Moreover, providing students with images as examples of the meanings of words would help ESL students better understand what they are learning. Schools and teachers can take steps to include ESL students’ families in cultural awareness lessons; which would help the class build a better understanding and acceptance of their diverse peers. Moreover, schools and teachers can also create translated newsletters, permission slips, and other handouts for families they know use other languages at home. This would show the students and their families that their cultural and diverse backgrounds are valued. This is because the school acknowledges their differences and makes accommodations for them. If schools know that the family does not speak English yet still sends handouts in English home with the family, then the school is showing little regard for the needs of the student and their family. Moreover, how is their family supposed to know what their children are doing in school? This is something that can be avoided by taking the families cultural and language differences