My ESL/EAL story
After two years teaching Grade 6 at Morrison Academy in Taiwan, I reflected on what I could do to become a better teacher. I wanted to help my second language learner’s better access the curriculum so I moved to Portland, Oregon and began working on my masters. Two years later, I earned a M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction with an ESL endorsement. I then worked in David Douglas School District as a K-5 ESL teacher and later at UNIS Hanoi as a Grade 2 and then Grade 5 EAL (English as an Additional Language) teacher. I have found that my training and experience in ESL/EAL makes me a better classroom teacher not only for my second language learners but for all of my students because I am better trained in differentiation. I have also developed a keen awareness of my students language ability and better able to assess their needs.
The best part of my ESL experience though has been the impact I have been able to have on my students. Below is a paragraph I wrote after my first week teaching EAL at UNIS Hanoi. The child I am writing about started out with little English. Three years later I happened to be her classroom teacher in Grade 5. At that point she had become one of my strongest readers and writers.
“My favorite moment of work this week came when I was working with a little girl who speaks very little English. I sat next to her during reading time and asked if she could read to me. She had opened a large book with few words in it. ”Ummm, I can’t read English good,” she said looking embarrassed. “oh that’s alright, but you can read a little, that’s very good. Can you read in Czech?” I asked. Her face instantly brightened, “oh yes! I can. My sister she,she ummm.” “You have an older sister?” I tried to encourage her “Yes! and she umm, her English is ummm,” she searched for the words she didn’t yet know. “Can she read English well?” I asked. “Yes, yes! very good! But me no good,” she said, looking very discouraged. “Well that’s alright, you can already read Czech, now I will help teach you to read English very well,” I said as I smiled at her. I could see her muscles visibly relax and her eyes quickly looked up to meet mine. “Really,” she said now smiling brightly. “Yes,” I responded. “Okay,” she said, her entire body posture had now changed from one of frustration to that of child-like excitement.”
Taken from http://danandmindy.wordpress.com/the-other-side-of-the-window/
Little did she know that one day. She would not only read English comfortably. She would excel in it. I feel lucky to have assisted her and others on that journey.
The best part of my ESL experience though has been the impact I have been able to have on my students. Below is a paragraph I wrote after my first week teaching EAL at UNIS Hanoi. The child I am writing about started out with little English. Three years later I happened to be her classroom teacher in Grade 5. At that point she had become one of my strongest readers and writers.
“My favorite moment of work this week came when I was working with a little girl who speaks very little English. I sat next to her during reading time and asked if she could read to me. She had opened a large book with few words in it. ”Ummm, I can’t read English good,” she said looking embarrassed. “oh that’s alright, but you can read a little, that’s very good. Can you read in Czech?” I asked. Her face instantly brightened, “oh yes! I can. My sister she,she ummm.” “You have an older sister?” I tried to encourage her “Yes! and she umm, her English is ummm,” she searched for the words she didn’t yet know. “Can she read English well?” I asked. “Yes, yes! very good! But me no good,” she said, looking very discouraged. “Well that’s alright, you can already read Czech, now I will help teach you to read English very well,” I said as I smiled at her. I could see her muscles visibly relax and her eyes quickly looked up to meet mine. “Really,” she said now smiling brightly. “Yes,” I responded. “Okay,” she said, her entire body posture had now changed from one of frustration to that of child-like excitement.”
Taken from http://danandmindy.wordpress.com/the-other-side-of-the-window/
Little did she know that one day. She would not only read English comfortably. She would excel in it. I feel lucky to have assisted her and others on that journey.