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Entry 1:Introduction

Hello Everyone,

My name is Celester Horton and I am currently a senior at the University of Houston (Sugar Land Campus). I am majoring in Teaching and Learning in hopes of becoming a 2nd-grade teacher. I hope taking this class aids me in understanding my future ESL students and accommodating ways to assist them in their learning.



-Celester Horton

Comments

  1. CarolinaFebruary 1, 2019 at 5:17 PM

    Hi Celester,

    I am happy that high schools require the two years of learning a foreign language. Although the individual may not get to fully acquire the language, they get an understanding of how long it can take someone to learn a completely different language and be more considerate. I myself had to learn English and it was not an easy process because everything I knew at the time was all in Spanish. I was able to be fluent in both English and Spanish because when I started Elementary school, I was in bilingual classes where I got to practice reading and writing both languages. (Wright, 2015, pg. 11)

    Wright, Wayne E. (2015) Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners, Philadelphia, PA: Caslon Publishing

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    Replies
    1. Emily O'NeillFebruary 10, 2019 at 8:55 PM

      Hi Carolina,

      My foreign language classes in high school definitely helped me realize how truly hard it is to learn a foreign language, especially at an older age. I respect you so much for being able to learn English in such a short amount of time, as that is something that is difficult to do. I am also glad that you were able to retain Spanish, as sometimes teachers will try to replace a students home language with English. Wright explains in the text that "English should be viewed as an additional language rather than as a replacement for their home language" (Wright, 2015, pg. 22).

      Wright, Wayne E. (2015) Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners, Philadelphia, PA: Caslon Publishing


      Delete
    2. Celester HortonFebruary 10, 2019 at 9:49 PM

      Hi Carolina,

      Thank you for visiting my blog. I think it is great that you were able to learn both languages at such a young age. "ELLs typically have literacy skills in their home languages only if they have had the opportunity to learn to read and write them in school", (Wright pg 11). With the help of achievement of being fluent in both English and Spanish aides in language proficiency.

      Wright, Wayne. Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners: Research, Theory, Policy, and Practice. Philadelphia, PA: Caslon, 2015. Print. Second Edition.

      Delete
  2. Emily O'NeillFebruary 3, 2019 at 12:58 PM

    Hi Celester,

    I have had a very similar experience with learning a foreign language in high school. I took Spanish for two years and I'm not sure I would even be able to speak or write a complete language in Spanish. My teacher didn't really do a lot of verbal activities. It was mostly just memorizing vocabulary so that could be why I struggled. In the text, it talks about how teachers need to incorporate different instruction strategies for different English Language Learning Levels and I think that if my teacher may have done that I could have been more successful. Some students learn by seeing, hearing, writing, or watching. Incorporating some of these different styles would most likely have result of an overall increase in learning among my Spanish class and many others. (Wright, 2015, pg. 12)

    Wright, Wayne E. (2015) Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners, Philadelphia, PA: Caslon Publishing

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    Replies
    1. Sheena DarayanFebruary 9, 2019 at 1:31 PM

      Emily,

      As I am listening to the blogs and reading everyone’s comments, one thing most of us have in common is our same learning experience in second language such as Spanish in high school. The way we were taught did not put us on the road to obtain second language knowledge. As Wright says, “Experience leads to expertise,” (Wright, p.17). It seems that the experiences provided for us during high school years in second language class was not efficient or adequate to make us “expertise” (Wright p.17) in second language.

      Wright, Wayne. Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners: Research, Theory, Policy, and Practice. Philadelphia, PA: Caslon, 2015. Print. Second Edition.

      Delete
    2. Celester HortonFebruary 10, 2019 at 9:23 PM

      Hi Emily,

      I completely agree that teachers must understand that students learn in various ways. By learning about students cultural background and interest, teachers are able to "make the best possible decisions for providing effective instruction for their ELLs"(Wright pg. 24). Using visual, hands-on activities, and more can make learning enjoyable for students.

      Wright, Wayne. Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners: Research, Theory, Policy, and Practice. Philadelphia, PA: Caslon, 2015. Print. Second Edition.

      Delete
    3. Celester HortonFebruary 10, 2019 at 9:33 PM

      Sheena,

      I too notice that many of us encountered that same experience with learning a foreign language in high school. Wright goes on to say, "the more teachers know about a students experiences, the more he or she can assume expertise.." (Wright. pg 19). If we as educators can be that expertise for our students, we can provide them the tools they need to be successful.

      Wright, Wayne. Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners: Research, Theory, Policy, and Practice. Philadelphia, PA: Caslon, 2015. Print. Second Edition.

      Delete
  3. Josefina MarbanFebruary 7, 2019 at 9:04 PM

    Hello Celester,

    I loved your teaching philosophy, it sounded honest and sincere like it truly came from your heart! I feel like learning French like you did in high school must have been challenging for you. It is crazy that high requires two years of foreign language. Learning an entire different language is very challenging because every word in every language may or may not have a different meaning. Working with a partner might have been fun and engaging as well. Did you choose to take this class because it connects to you or your home? In the book I read that "ELLs will typically have literacy skills in their home language only if they have had the opportunity to learn to read and write them in school, either in their home country or in the United States in a bilingual program..." (Wright, 2015, pg. 12)

    Wright, Wayne E. (2015) Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners, Philadelphia, PA: Caslon Publishing

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    Replies
    1. Celester HortonFebruary 10, 2019 at 9:42 PM

      Hello Josefina,

      Thank you so much for you kind comment! I truly believe in my teaching philosophy and making students feel welcome. I also believe that teachers should put in effort to achieve this goal. I honestly chose this language because I aspire to visit France. And I still do! Learning another language can be difficult and the words can have different meanings. Wright explains that teachers can also inform the teaching of cognates, which are that are similar the English language and as students home language (Wright pg. 34). While learning French, a lot of the English words related to the French cognate.

      Wright, Wayne. Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners: Research, Theory, Policy, and Practice. Philadelphia, PA: Caslon, 2015. Print. Second Edition.

      Delete

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