ESL/ELL Resources to Succeed in School- Entry #2

 

1. What is something new that I learned? 

Through reading this article, I learned that there are five different course levels of language proficiency that can be mastered by EL learners. These levels include Level One (Beginning), Level Two (High Beginning), Level Three (Intermediate), Level Four (High Intermediate), and Level Five (Advanced). The students can progress through each level as they grow in their proficiency in mastering the English Language through targeted instruction and courses.

2. How can I apply this in the classroom? 

I can apply my new knowledge of these levels within my classroom by analyzing the students' proficiency in different categories to assign a level of mastery to each student. I could then use this collected data to place students in different levels according to their needs. This would help to keep instructional targets more aligned to students' needs and help to focus on what each student requires in their learning experiences. 

3. What are my top 3 take-aways? 

1) As of 2013, Spanish speakers comprised 71 percent of all English Language Learning students in the United States.

2) Since less than one percent of all public school teachers are qualified to teach ESL, many students do not receive the instruction they deserve. This means that I should work harder to meet the needs of my future students by seeking out appropriate professional development. 

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

In the classroom at JSU, I have learned about so many resources available to help educators meet the needs of their students. Specifically, I have gained so much insight into the Google Translate options in many of the Google apps that help educators communicate with students and parents. I can use these apps to help me communicate with all Levels of EL learners to best categorize their needs and target my instruction in the future. 

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

In my practicum placement, I have observed a school ELL Resource Team. This team was made up of educators and administrators from the school that compiled and shared resources to facilitate effective instruction for these students in their school. I can use these personal experiences to build my own team of collaborative educators (TESOL's) to help me gain the resources and information I need to reach my students.