When one teaches English, it becomes more than a language. English is a way of life reflected through teaching. There are bigger and deeper questions regarding English today. How one defines English, then, is crucial for how one will teach it.
We will devote some time of our class to discuss about, English and English Education. Definitions for these two terms come in all shapes and sizes. We will use as starting point, three statements from professional associations:
1. TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) – Position Statement on Teaching English as a Foreign or Additional Language to Young Learners
2. TESOL – Position Paper on language and literacy development for young English Language Learners (ages 3-8)
3. NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) – What is English Education? (from the Conference on English Education)
After reading these statements, the question is: How do you define “English”? “English Education”? Make sure to write your working definitions in the comments, based on what we read in class and our discussions.
Language learning and teaching.
ResponderEliminarWe live in a globalized world that requires many things in order to be better for one. Language is used for multiple purposes. One those, is being a bridge for people that don’t speak a common language and need to communicate. English has surfaced as the international language that helps economists, lawyers, or any other professionals to engage in their activities with culturally diverse people. Taking the previous into account, English learning and teaching, are crucial. English teaching, as explained in ''What is English Education?'' By the Conference on English Education Committee, must include an appropriate selection of instructional materials and assignments that helps the teacher gather information. This is beneficial for learning as the teacher is always informed of student’s progress.
Position Statement on Teaching English as a Foreign or Additional Language to Young Learners.
ResponderEliminar“Native speaker proficiency in the target language alone is not a sufficient qualification for such teaching positions; the field of teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) is a professional discipline that requires specialized training”. Nowadays in Colombia, in the institutions of English and even here in the University, people thinks that going to be better a person who knows English because is a foreign than a teacher specialized in our country. We as a teachers have to change that thoughts. How? Studying hard, demonstrate that our career is important and teaching so good, using an effective methods and approaches.
Position Paper on Language and Literacy Development for Young English Language Learners (ages 3-8)
ResponderEliminar“Accountability systems that hold teachers and schools responsible for the English literacy development of ESOL learners”. Why only teachers and school? I think if the partners also take the responsibility to work in it (English literacy development), the students someday will arrived to school with level B1.
“By continually using reliable, valid, and fair assessments, teachers are able to modify their instruction and tailor it to the individual needs of ESOL learner”
I Have seen, in our faculty of education that are many helps to students who wants to improve the English level, but simply their don’t go to that helps, so, what going to do the teachers when really a student who really needs learning English, don’t have motivation?. In the other hand; sometimes, student only needs to be in classes to get the diploma, could we be fairs? Or simply help them to finalize the course regardless the English level? Because that is the necessity of them.
English education
ResponderEliminar"English educators value this intellectual diversity, and they strive to introduce pre- and in-service teachers to the complexity and richness of the field".
“Richness of the field” Almost all of the teachers in the Faculty of Education UPB, know it, and really I as preservice teacher feel it, all the time they are motivate us, reinforce us and help us to be better, to be an excellent teachers in a future and I appreciate it a lot.
English is the one of the most spoken languages in the world, it's very common to see people making bussines in english, all the instructions, phones, documents and so many things there are important and essential in our days.
ResponderEliminarEnglish is the key is be able to communicate what you think or what you need in case of somebody does not speak your same language.
In English education there are so many aspects that influence the "english learning". To be able to learn you also need to understand the culture, habits and beliefs; it's not only talk and know grammar, english it's about to communicate and be immersed in all the thinks that are part of the language.
" In order to face the challenges that come with a diverse classroom, all educators and administrators need to have both pre- and in-service training opportunities in linguistic and cultural diversity, and in principles of first and second language development." Position Paper on Language and Literacy Development for Young English Language Learners (ages 3-8) P.3
ResponderEliminarIs so intersting the part of document number 1 when says that proficiency in the target language alone is not a sufficient qualification for such teaching, some people thinks that they know speak and write in english, but is not enough, By the other side, knowing something does not necessarily mean know teach it.
ResponderEliminarThe bilingualism process in Colombia from the “lineamientos curriculares” are in disconnection with the reality of the schools. One problem may be that the teachers know how to speak it, but they do not know how to teach it, many public institutions are anchored in that English is one more subject and often only taught to a certain degree.
ResponderEliminarI think that in order for the “lineamientos y estandares” to be met, we must train and prepare teachers, create programs that teach various subjects in English, improve evaluation models, so that students who complete high school have a level of competitive English.
Language is used for communicating and relating with others. For this reason, language teachers should bear in mind that teaching a language is not only teaching it, but also that through it culture is being taught, in addition, the teaching of a language is based on several contexts.
ResponderEliminarThe idea to become Colombia into a bilingual country is influenced by the demands of the globalized world today. Mejía (2006) says that if we keep the notion of bilingualism as learning English and Spanish, we can create a distorted view of the complex relationships between languages, cultures and identities in the Colombian context. To speak of bilingualism would also imply talking about the creation of a more tolerant and understanding society.
Nowadays, the adequacy of the conditions of being a bilingual country is questionable because in schools there are few hours for teaching English, the methods used are poor, there are a shortage of materials and qualified teachers, the classes are numerous and, in general, there are few opportunities to use the language. The Ministry has proposed standards for the evaluation of English in the different levels of academic training, but in most cases it is not fulfilled because the methodologies of the teachers are not the better.
Fellas and Rubén: since reading all documents I have been thinking about how I want to be as a teacher (and how I won’t be), and after a critical reflection I want to share with you all some personal conclusions:
ResponderEliminarThe interest in learning languages, in this case English, is based on three levels: commercial, economic and political, this motivated by a society in constant "progress". In Colombia, people talk about the necessity of a bilingual country, so far there are some policies that regulate how the teaching of English should be, but everything is about promises and no facts. Actually, I do not have a clear perspective of what is happening in Colombia, whether the problem is because of the mentality of the population or the Government/Ministry of Education that has not designed an efficient system to teach English in schools. From my point of view, the creation of pedagogical strategies to develop and improve basic skills in English must be essential and a key element for us pre-service teachers to transform our educational system in terms of teaching English as a second language.
I also believe that the role of the student is not static, they are not a simple recipient of knowledge, but they take part in their learning process. But we as future teachers have to focus on an exposure of the language for our future students, not just six hours per week as in schools but constantly. I also think there are four important things to learn a language (English) and transform our pedagogical practice:
1. To exposed students to the language (everybody must overcome the fear of speaking, even teachers).
2. To understand its cultural meaning and, of course, be able to teach it (people not only learn a language but also recognizes the culture that uses it).
3. To understand its structure (how English is constructed)
4. To make students practice it constantly by encouraging dialogue between them as learners.
In this way, they will expose themselves to the expressive and understanding domain of the mechanisms that form the basis of all social interaction and, therefore, of all learning.
I would like to finish with a quote a teacher of mine says: "a bored student stops paying attention and does not get the information." And what is the result? They learn practically nothing and the very few things they might understand are by obligation and with some displeasure".
Position Statement on Teaching English as a Foreign
ResponderEliminaror Additional Language to Young Learners
I can identify in the text the importance of knowing the purpose and goals to be developed, when we are teachers, by the example in the second item.
"Effective EFL/EAL teachers should themselves be successful and
experienced language learners. Just as important are teachers’ personal attitudes towardcontinued education and learning and their willingness to model language learning for the students with whom they work".(ages 1)
Position Paper on language and literacy development for young English Language Learners (ages 3-8)
ResponderEliminarFor a native can be very difficult to learn another language, due to the consequences that this entails, however having a relationship with culture; Learning is facilitated.
"Language and literacy knowledge in one language can serve as the foundation for a new language (Cummins, 1991; Paez & Rinaldi, 2006; Proctor, August, Carlo, & Snow, 2006). Moreover, use of the native language builds a connection between the home and school. ESOL students’ families should be encouraged to read and talk to their children in the family’s native language if this is their strongest language. Families should be encouraged to develop literacy in the
native language even when schools are not able to provide it, keeping in mind that not all families have had formal schooling opportunities."
ResponderEliminarI think that learning a second language in Colombia has become a factor that contributes to educational inequality. Just to mention two examples: it is considered that a good school should be bilingual, something that is not completely true, although it is assumed to be true. And there are many universities in Colombia that offer MBA (Master of Business Administration) programs to increase the prestige of their programs and attract more students, so that their classes are delivered in perfect Spanish and the level of English proficiency of their graduates is questionable.
Sebas, I agree with your first line. Second language education is not made for everyone.
EliminarWhat about those who live in conflict zones or those who live in poverty? most of them don´t even have access to our educational system, which means they won´t be able to learn even the basic things of a second language, for example English.
Exactly Lau, all people do not have the resources to do it.
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ResponderEliminarAfter reading the documents I think that strengthening the command of a foreign language is essential for any society interested in participating in global academic, cultural and economic dynamics, among other aspects.
ResponderEliminarThe improvement of the levels of communicative competence in English in Colombia, necessarily leads to the emergence of opportunities for its citizens, recognition of other cultures and individual and collective growth, increasing the possibilities of social mobility and conditions More equitable for Development.
In this case Colombia would gain a lot by having a good educational system that teaches, from primary to university, the use of a second language. Sectors such as tourism would benefit directly, foreign investment would be attracted to a country in which its inhabitants have knowledge of English. Many companies would not have the language barrier to offer their products abroad and have websites to market them, would make Colombians more competitive.
For learning a foreign language is necessary knowing how to read, write and speak the mother language. In Colombia many students haven't a good level of English because have problems with the mother language and this is a great obstacule for learning any idiom. English education is teaching and learning English of differents ways all time. For this reason, it is important to teachers having necessary tools to create multimodality classes that could improve the basic competences of the students since childrens in spanish and English. I as a teacher in training think that all the teachers should implement methodolies according to the needs of each group or student but I thought about it and realized that, at first glance I have to improve my english skills and then I could help to others. In this sense, it could be said a very big problem in Colombia is that many teachers in service do not have a good English level and this obstructs the progress of education, as consequence the students that complete high school have a low level in English because never existed an active use of language.
ResponderEliminarTeaching and learning a second language is more than just give an instruction of how to say "hello" and what it means. When you are teaching a foreign language you must know that you are exposing a different culture, a new world for your students. And as we live in a world where everything has a value or a need to be, you most show how useful is to know a foreign language in this globalizated world, and not just a foreign language, it's English what you're teaching.
ResponderEliminarTeaching a language has to include some characteristics in which the context determines the needs of a learning community. As future teachers i think that us have to take the responsibility of make an structurated and concient procces of the learning of a second language of or students in the social and academic enviroment adapting it to the real living.
ResponderEliminarAs i see, the content of the curriculum and proposals from the ministry of education is like an utopical idea that the educational sistem doesn´t reached yet; from my experience i should say that even the sociecy hasn´t a clear idea of the targets of the bilingualism in the country.
In other hand, the access to english learning is limitation for economical reasons, most people in the country has not closer places in which they will interact and get contextualised to the english language. despite this, i think from my identity as a future profetional in taerching language that the challenge is to bring to the future learners various tools and places to enter or improve a second language because it will help them in the global market and actual society.
The way i define english education according to what i read and my own experience, this is not only going to a classroom and teach but also being able to envolve the students with the new culture by finding out the way to use it in different contexts. In order to achieve this, we as preservice teachers need to have develop new strategies and merhodologies to make students interact with the languaje, not only in class but also in the real life.
ResponderEliminar