Being a Second Language Learner- Entry #5

1. What is something new that I learned?

I really enjoyed how the speaker emphasized the importance of Second Language Speakers learning from their mistakes to improve their abilities overall.

2. How can I apply this in the classroom?

I can apply this to the classroom setting by allowing my ELL students to engage in productive struggle as they encounter and practice new elements of the English Language. This will set the students in the outer range of their ZPD, which will encourage them to strive for success at a greater level. This could be done through independent practice of reading and writing, or through partner opportunities, in which ELLs are able to learn from their mistakes to better improve their skills.

3. What are my top 3 take-aways?

1) As native speakers of the English Language, we must be more empathetic and understanding of the journey that our ELLs are on in understanding the language.

2) To best learn and be able to use the language, ELLs need to experience mistakes in order to overcome them.

3) Second language learners are more capable of applying the language when they can connect it to their own experiences and use it firsthand.

4. How can I connect this information with something I have learned in the classroom?

This information presented in the TED talk is easily connected to the information I have learned about a student's Zone of Proximal Development. In most of my blocks at JSU, a student's ZPD has been a major focus in scaffolding the students abilities and encouraging them to strive to go beyond their boundaries.

5. How can I connect this information with something I learned in practicum/internship?

The information presented in the TED talk concerning the construction of knowledge through mistakes connects to the Growth Mindset ideas I have learned about in my placements. This mindset ideal encourages students to learn from their mistakes and work to overcome them. This directly connects to the ideas presented in this presentation relating to ELLs in the classroom.