Entry 2- ELL Interview
In this interview, I decided to interview my mom. My mom has always been an inspiration to me, at 12 years old she came to the United States without knowing any English and she attended school in Brownsville. My mom was born in Brownsville, Texas but she was raised in Mexico until she was 12 years old. Her desire to learn English was greater than any fear. She moved to the U.S with family members and began 6th grade there.
Her first day of school was one of the hardest things she had faced at that age. She had lunch by herself, her teachers were not very welcoming and she did not make any friends because she couldn't speak the language. She remembers another student who welcomed her and guided her through the school.
She attended school here until she was 14 and then went back to Mexico to attend a technical school for accounting. Unfortunately, she did not learn any English in school. Instead, her family members that lived in Brownsville taught her English by not allowing her to speak Spanish and watching English only television shows.
When I think of an ELL learner my mom is the first person that comes to mind. In my opinion i think my mom has acquired additive bilingualism. She speaks both languages very well.
Hi Marcela, I enjoyed watching your interview with your mother! I think that it is very impressive how your mother was able to learn English without the support of her teachers. According to Wright (2015, p. 29), teachers are educators and agents of socialization. Students may have a hard time adjusting to the new culture because it might be their first contact with English. Therefore, Wright states that “the ways teachers organize their programs and practices helps students adjust to the everyday practices, system of values and beliefs, and the means and manners of communication at school and in society“ (2015, p. 29). Although your mother did not receive the support she deserved from her teachers, she was able to get past her situation and become fluent in English.
ReplyDeleteWright, E. W. (2015). Foundations of Teaching English Language Learners: Research, Theory, Policy, and Practice. Caslon Publishing.
I do agree with Wright, how the way teachers organize their programs to assist with everyday practices. However, I think this was recently brought up because when my mom was in school the no child left behind act was not implemented. (Wright 2015) This meant that teachers did not emphasize too much on ELL students. This could have been a reason why my mother was not as successful in school here. I think if her teachers could have differentiated her lessons more she could have been more succesful.
DeleteHi Angela! I agree with you that it was very impressive that Marcela’s mother was able to learn English even though her teachers did not offer much support on that front. I am glad that in recent education laws no child gets left behind that it is legal requirement to assist and support ELL students. It is so important that these students get assistance as early as possible so that they are able to formally learn English to aid in their schooling.
DeleteHi Marcella! I loved that you interviewed your mother. The thought of interviewing my parents never came across and they both came into the U.S. in their early teens. Now you have me curious on how school was for them in them here! I was very sad to hear that you mother had no support in the school system beside that one little girl that helped. In our text, Wright states that when students are provided with instruction and opportunities for meaningful interaction from their teachers and help their students to continue making a progress in developing proficiency in English. I’m really upset your mother didn't get the help she needed at school but I’m so happy that didn't discourage her from continuing to learn.
ReplyDeleteOur parents are an open book we just have to ask them! I love hearing her stories about how things were like when she was younger. It is very upsetting to hear that my mother did not receive any help, but it only makes me become a better teacher. Talking to her reminds me that I have to be that teacher that differentiates for her students especially our ELL students.
DeleteHi Emely! I definitely agree with you that it is a sad fact that Marcela’s teachers did not provide the support that is helpful for ELL students. I would have been very upset to have been in this situation or to hear that my own mother had gone through it. For reasons like this it is so important that No Child Left Behind was put into affect. ELL students should have the support they deserve. I know when we all become teachers we will help all of our students.
DeleteMarcela remember that in our text states that, "To help students succeed in the classroom and in school, teachers need to 'think linguistically', that is, teachers need to 'understand language as an integral element in the content they teach, the contributions that their students make in the classroom, and how these students participate in lessons and activities" (Wright, 2015). So keep that in mind when creating differentiated lessons for your future ELL students.
DeleteUnfortunately the No Child Left Behind Act was repealed in 2015 and replaced with the Every Student Succeeds Act which mandates new expectations and requirements for all students, enfaces on the all. I do agree that ELL students should get the support they deserve, just as Marcela's mother needed the help. Even Wright states that teachers should have certain methods and approaches to teaching ESL students (2015). It’s disappointing how her mother didn’t have a teacher who was prepared.
DeleteHey Marcella!
ReplyDeleteThis was such a cool idea, I would have never thought to ask my mom. But this is a great way to really get to see that we may not be where we want to be in the education system but at least we have made some progress in helping our students. We are at least recognizing them and educators are learning ways to help and accommodate for those students. According to Wright, "historically, the U.S. education system has done an inadequate job in providing equitable educational opportunities to poor and minority student" (2010, page 13). I feel strongly that in the past this might have been the case not, to say your mother was poor, but minorities such as latinos were over looked. I speak on behalf of my mother who in school was also told not to speak english because this is "America". Which makes me sad to hear your mom had no support, or any one to help her learn besides herself. But it makes me see how far we have come.
Wright, E. W. (2015). Foundations of Teaching English Language Learners: Research, Theory, Policy, and Practice. Caslon Publishing.
Hi Hilian! This is true, the U.S has not had a good history of the best education system. (Wright 2015) Talking to her and other ELL students and have them explain about how school was back then is really astonishing to see how much our education system has evolved. I think now, teachers are putting in more work for their students. I think students are having class be customized to their needs instead of having a "one-size fits-all" class discussion.
DeleteHi Hilian! I completely agree with you that it is such a sad occurrence when students do not receive the help they need and are deserving of. I am so glad that in recent years in the US it has become a law that ELL students are required to get assistance. This would have been helpful when Marcela’s mother was in school so she could have gotten the assistance she needed. Luckily, she was able to succeed and learn English even without that help.
DeleteHello Marcela,
ReplyDeleteWow what a resilient and brave women your mom is! She must have worked extremely hard to learn English considering she had no help from her teacher. It is shocking to hear your mom say that she did not receive any help from her teachers in order to better accommodate for her situation. The changes that have been made in school systems in order to help ELL students have radically changed the way teachers approach their English language learners. Today “teachers use a wide variety of techniques, such as total physical response (TPR), ample visuals, small group work, and any other activities involving meaningful communication that can facilitate the provision of comprehensible input” (Wright, 2015). Theses accommodations are extremely important for students to have and your mom is an incredible person for learning English so well without any help from her teachers.
Wright, Wayne. Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners: Research, Theory, Policy, and Practice. Philadelphia, PA: Caslon, 2015. Print. Second Edition.
I always think that if she could of had the accomodations we give students now I just wonder how much more she could have accomplish. Now-a-days, we give ELL students visuals in order for them to connect to the work and have a better understanding. (Wright 2015) Just last night she was reading something to me in English and she read it all perfectly fine. I know at times she feels self conscious about it, but she has come a long way and is improving everyday. When she comes across a new word or she needs to translate something I'm there to help her.
DeleteI believe we are headed down the right path. Now there are many accommodations and resources given to English language students. As future teachers it is important that we are aware of these accommodations. I believe the best thing we can do now as learners is to get in as much information as we can get so that we are well prepared for the day when we have an English language student in our classroom.
DeleteHi Marcela!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed listening to you interview with your mother. I can relate a lot of the things your mom went through to things that my parents also went through! Its interesting to see how many changes there have been in supporting ELL students. As I have seen in my current placement, we use a lot of visuals, turn and talks, and collaborative work to encourage student communication. These strategies have been proven useful with our ELL students. I am glad that now there is such an emphasis in providing the proper accommodations and supports for our ELL students. When your mom mentioned that she was not allowed to speak her native language at school, I could relate to that. Even when I was in middle school not so long ago, I remember our teachers would tell us that same thing. This is America and we speak English here. That was a very closed minded view seeing as our students are so diverse.
Wright, Wayne. Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners: Research, Theory, Policy, and Practice. Philadelphia, PA: Caslon, 2015. Print. Second Edition.
I completely agree with you Joselyn, it is a close minded thing to say "this is America and we speak English here", but as I've mentioned this before, these are the reasons I want to become a teacher. I want to teach to those who are underrepresented and feel like they don't have anyone that cares about their education. I want to be an advocate for those students who think their education is not important because they do not understand the language. Taking these classes with ELL students have helped me understand more of how to teach them. Even though I am an ELL learner myself I think I would still struggle in teaching them because what worked for me may not work for them. According to Wright, he mentions that the use of visuals is very important in planning your lesson or unit for ELL students. Visuals are not only good for ELL students but for all young students as well. Especially at the elementary level they can be very useful.
DeleteIt is evident that you are super passionate about helping not only our ELL students but all students. I think its so important to be accepting and respectful of a students home language and culture. According to Wright (2015, p. 29), “teachers who respect their students’ home languages and cultures can be most effective in helping students make the necessary transitions without undercutting the role that parents and families must continue to lay in their education and development.” I think that as teachers we have to create a welcoming environment in which our students feel comfortable learning in. Like in the case of your mother, they did not create a welcoming environment for her to learn English in.
DeleteWright, Wayne. Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners: Research, Theory, Policy, and Practice. Philadelphia, PA: Caslon, 2015. Print. Second Edition.