Transcript ACater
ESL Acquisition & Social Studies Allison Cater Gentry Jr. School ESL 6-8 Science & SS GHAWP 2004 ESL POEM (taken from In The Middle) English As A Second Language The underpaid young teacher prints the letters t, r, e, e on the blackboard and imagines forest and gardens springing up in the tired head of her students. But they see only four letters; A vertical beam weighed down By a crushing crossbar And followed by a hook, And after the hook, two squiggles, Arcane identical twins Which could be spying eyes Or ready fists, could be handles, Could be curled seedlings, could take root, Could develop leaves. ~Lisel Mueller MYTHS Students can learn a language quickly and easily Students automatically learn another language when immersed in an environment where everyone speaks that language All students learn a second language the same way Students have acquired a second language once they can speak Students need to learn grammar and vocabulary before they can speak Four Stages of Second Language Acquisition I. Pre-production ~students do not usually produce their own language ~students understand language that has been comprehensible II. Early production ~students have a small, active vocabulary ~they feel ready to speak in one- or two-word phrases III. Speech emergence ~there is a noticeable increase in listening comprehension ~students will try to speak in short phrases ~they will begin to use the social language necessary in the classroom IV. Nearly fluent ~students understand what is said in the classroom ~they can express their ideas comprehensibly in both oral and written communication ~they will be able to read most grade level material Literacy Development for ELL (ESL) Speed & fluency with a new language will vary from one child to the next Language acquisition is a very complex process that may not always follow a straight path Oral language must come first for ELL students. Once they have developed oral language skills in English, they can begin to learn about writing and reading in English Music and Poetry (Multiple Intelligences) *BER Institute presentation by Jo Guzman… Guzman uses Dr. Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligence theory to show one of many examples of how music and repetition are like glue to a brain (POETRY) •Charlie Brown’s teacher (example) •It is important to permit the new student to watch and listen without demands at first. •Comprehensible input is vital for success. You could look at Chinese writing for 100 years and never learn it, if someone did not explain it. Lesson: The 7 continents Learning Through Poetry The Seven Continents North America, South America joined in the West. Europe and Asia meet together, and on Africa they rest. Australia stands alone, floating down below. And Antarctica is the loneliest, where no one wants to go. www.teachers.net YOUR TURN… Create your own poem of either the 7 continents or choose 1 continent. It can be any rhyming pattern. Bibliography Department of Public Instruction: Myths www.everythingesl.net:Four Stages of second language acquisition www.bnkst.edu: Literacy Development for ELL BER Institute: Jo Guzman “multiple intelligences” www.teachersdesk.org: Austrailia