Day #4

Dear Diary,

I learned something new today about one of the girls in my class. Mrs. Wallace* has each student lead the daily warm up. I've yet to have my chance but today was Yen's* turn. She got up with her partner and they started warm ups. "Stretch up! Flop down! Toes, floor, toes, swing! Toes, floor, toes, swing!" I love doing the warm up. Its so fun. But while I was stretching down, I heard an unfamiliar voice start counting the motion of slowly coming up. I looked up and saw Yen* saying her numbers. Then Mrs. Wallace* told Yen* that she was more than welcome to count in her own language. She started counting in an unfamiliar tongue. i looked to my teacher who was smiling a big grin. I just thought Yen* was quiet. I never thought that it was possible that she didn't speak english. I thought every one spoke English. I had never met anyone who spoke another language except for Spanish. Unless they were really old. She was speaking Asian. My own language. But I didn't know it. I can imagine if I was in Mrs. Wallace's* shoes, I wouldn't know how to interact with Yen*. But I stayed after class to ask Mrs. Wallace* about Yen*. She told me that Yen* can understand most English. She told me that Yen* is slightly uncomfortable to speak English because she is hesitate that she will say something wrong. I felt bad for her but Mrs. Wallace* told me not to. She told me that this is a learning experience for her and that she doesn't want to be singled out. I guess I can understand that. She told me she had three other ESL students in my class. I asked her what ESL meant. It means English Language Learner. . But I give a lot of credit to my teacher. I'm horrible with other languages. But maybe my new friends can help me adapt. I'm always up for learning new things.

Christeen

This reminds me of an article written by Claude Goldenberg. Should ESL learners be secluded?? No. Unfortunately, my assigned school just doesn't have enough funding or teachers for a good ESL program causing the children to be mixed in. I believe it is a learning experience for them. Teachers should want to rise to the challenge of teaching a student who may not understand everything they are saying. It could be a learning experience for all, teachers, child and classmates. I would be nervous about teaching an ESL student, but now I am only more eager to start my career in hopes that I will be challenged in more ways than one in order to grow into a better teacher.



This is a video of ESL students learning their actions words.