Blog # 2
I am a firm believer in
learning a language from birth and repeating the language into adulthood. I
think many times people don’t realize how the human brain and memory works. "One very important thing to remember is that the ultimate goal of using those tools should be to help students become more independent learners and promote their agency for their own needs and aspirations,” (Brown & Lee, 2015, pg.254). For
instance, I learned how to add/subtract, tie my shoe, say the alphabet, write
my name, and etc.; all while in elementary and continued throughout middle,
high school, and even college. Teachers would build on the year before with the
information I already knew on how and what to teach their students. It makes me wonder were my teachers conducting research. I ask this question because many times I feel teachers don't conduct research on how to use productive ways to help their students learn; which ultimately results in students being left behind and clueless. Think about it, when learning to add, multiply, and divide teachers saw that some students couldn't do it so they allowed calculators as a modification. If the teachers didn't use research to figure this out; think about how many students would still be struggling and unable to solve math problems. Research needs to be done in all areas of education not just math. Many ELA teachers
spend all this time making sure you memorize the vocabulary but not taking the
time out to make sure you know and can build on the information in the upcoming
years; resulting in many students not remembering the language later in life. I
can recall countless times when I made flashcards reviewing for a test only
memorizing key words so I could obtain the information for that one test. Research should definitely be done when discussing teaching a foreign language. Many students are struggling in school because they don't have a bilingual teacher or they cannot speak the English language at all. It’s
sad because if I didn’t have my mother who is fluent in Spanish speaking the
language constantly around me; I honestly don’t think I would remember a lot,
if any, of the information I learned while in high school. When teaching I think “A variety of
techniques are important because of the limited language capacity” (Brown and
Lee, p.142, 2015) When it comes to a foreign language most states only require a foreign language class be taken in high school. Research would show that if the majority of high school students aren't obtaining the information and aren't using the language after high school shouldn't something change. Students are so diverse these days and learn from multiple
ways, which is the beauty of teaching if you ask me. No one child is the same
meaning there are many ways in which a teacher can successfully teach a foreign
language, if they research properly. But, from my recent observations why is that not happening? Why are
teachers only using one method and not expanding? Why are schools not starting
at a younger age teaching a language so students can be successful in becoming
bilingual? Almost every job in the state of Texas along offers a raise for
employees that can speak one or more languages. Texas is so diverse and with
the state rapidly growing, why don’t they see this as a concern? Fritz said,
“Being bilingual is beneficial to the student as they can maintain ties with
their culture, perform well with problem solving, and other executive
functions”. (Fritz, 2016). I couldn’t agree with him more, research in foreign
language is beneficial for a child to gain cognitive skills.
I believe we are hindering our future doctors, lawyers, engineers, postal
workers, and etc. by not researching and finding ways to help them with the opportunity to consume a
second language starting in elementary. We as a whole need to do better!
References
Brown, H. D., & Lee, H. (2015). Teaching by
principles: an interactive approach to language pedagogy (4th ed.). White
Plains, NY: Pearson Longman.
Fritz, G. K. (2016), The benefits of being
bilingual. The Brown University Child and Adolescent Behavior Letter, 32: 8.
doi:10.1002/cbl.30126
Your post was very enticing to read, Meijoly! I liked your rhetorical questions on why teachers are not expanding the ways they are teaching. I agree that it all has to do teachers not reading research and not willing to change their traditional ways of teaching. You also made a great point that we are hindering people of all professions by not having bilingualism in all schools because being able to communicate in different ways opens many opportunities. “Multilingualism… is a means for political cohesion, and cross-cultural understanding,” (Brown & Lee, 2015, p. 60) shows that knowing more than one language can benefit you by opening lines of communication. You are definitely right about retaining information if you are constantly exposed to it. In my experience, I knew Vietnamese as a young child, but slowly my parents stopped speaking the language and now I barely know it. That is great how your mom is always speaking Spanish around you!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Shelly Tran! I honestly feel like a lot needs to change in the future for the sake of our students. Teachers need to figure out a way that works for both the student and the teacher. “One very important thing to remember is that the ultimate goal of using those tools should be to help students become more independent learners and promote their agency for their own needs and aspirations,” (Brown & Lee, 2015, pg.254). It saddens me to see the cycle of NOT doing research and all that it is causing. I feel teachers need to get out of their "confront zone”, do research and finds ways to improve. So many times teachers need to send their students to other classes in order to translate or figure out how to relate to the student which is sad. Teachers expect students to just know the English language not considering the student may need you to know their language. i personally think it’s unfair and unjust to ask of a child. I'm so sorry to hear that you have stopped speaking your Vietnamese language, and don't remember a lot of what you taught at a young age. If you don't mind me asking, what made your parents stop using the language? Why did they stop teaching it to you?
DeleteHello Jolie! I agree completely with the notion that we lifelong learners. In my math course, it talks a lot about building knowledge. We as educators must know what prior knowledge students have and what knowledge they do not. I took Spanish in middle school and French in high school. I wanted to try something different once I got into high school. I often confused the languages. I do not remember too much of my French. However, both of these courses had the “Classical Method”. It was entirely teacher focused and a lot of worksheets. I did not learn much from this method. You are right about teachers sometimes using the drill method of learning. But there is no practicing! I have spent countless times to making flash cards to try and cram in for a test the next day. I lacked a lot of motivation. I really do wish that I had practiced my French more. In our textbook, “Teaching by Principles” there are a few guidelines for teaching different age groups. Brown and Lee state that it is important to make sure that the lessons have a variety. Appeal to the students’ interest, talk about the culture aspects of the foreign language. This might include fashion, sports, or any figures they might look up to. Make sure there are activities for the students to look forward to. Examples of this are museum trips, projects, and discussions in the classroom (Brown and Lee, 2015, pg. 121). Maybe if some of these guidelines were implemented into our classrooms we would have enjoyed them much more. Thank you for sharing. I enjoyed reading your blog.
ReplyDeleteDesiree,
DeleteThank You! I completely agree with you on the foreign language worksheets and method for teaching in high school. It was very sad because now we have nothing to show for it. It's almost like it was a waste of time completely if you ask me. So many of these teachers don't care to research what really works for students and how they benefit from the research. Many teachers believe that learning is only taught one way "their way" when in reality learning can be taught in multiple ways. I honestly think that in the next ten or twenty years the world will be a totally technology based meaning many people are going to have to start changing their ways. This generation is changing and becoming more and more diverse so it's important we as upcoming teachers research finding ways to better teach and relate to our students. Every complex set of skills like learning to play a musical instrument or a sport- is acquired through a combination of observing, focusing, practicing, monitoring, correcting, and redirecting.” (Brown and Lee, 2015, p 51). Think about it how many classes to do you know that have students who struggle with the English language as their second language and teachers who can't help them because they haven't researched ways to help?
Jolie,
DeleteI do feel like my time spent in my foreign language classrooms were a bit of a waste of time. This makes me incredible sad. It is true that there is so much research out there for teachers and staff to better assess our students. Being in the school now for Student Teaching has really opened my eyes to seeing how different teaching is being done. I talked about this with my mentor teacher and she explained it was due to research. Students now are being taught so different and it makes me happy. Although I do not agree with the intense STAAR tests. I see that there are tons of strategies being backed up by research to help our students. The thought of students out there who do not have a great support system because teachers have not looked up the research to better help them makes me upset. Learning should be enjoyable for students.
Desiree,
DeleteYou couldn't be more right! I feel the same, that learning should be enjoyable. But, how can learning be fun with the teachers who are only following one method of learning. When I read the Second Language Acquisition, research states that the communicative approach is the most effective way to teach students not the " Classic Method", yet i';m continuing to see teachers use this method is it very upsetting and disappointing. I am upset because I see some awesome teachers actually doing the research then I see some teachers don't take the time to care so it bothers me when I know there can be change. Another great fact you made was about the STAAR testing and I completely agree, there has been ton of research stating how those test are stressing students and making it more difficult to learn. I see students who make straight A's all year round but when it comes to those tests they fail and that's not fair if you ask me. Some students like myself just aren't test takers why punish them and belittle them for that because I feel like that's exactly what those test do. Shouldn't we come up with better ways to help our students succeed? With all the technology around us shouldn't there be more of an effective way to test our students? Seems to me like research is needed more frequently and more than ever in situations like these.
Jolie: You may be confused when you state that "research in foreign language is both beneficial and critical for a child to gain cognitive skills." You are referring to research in bilingualism. There is a plethora of research in this field that support the importance of bilingual education and the role of bilingualism for our brain. Unfortunately, education goes hand in hand with politics and you know many politicians deny facts provide by science and prefer to use religion as a way of getting support and making decision. Did you know that we do not have a major in bilingual education? Why is that? Why do you think there is not a strong bilingual education program at UH when we continue to see the need there is for bilingual teachers? Did you notice the big number of bilingual students in this class? Who was helping them explode their potential when they were in elementary school? Is the program you have done at UH preparing you to help these students in your classes?
ReplyDeleteI agree that bilingualism is very important and beneficial to everyone. I have read many articles discussing the importance of bilingualism and how important is it to the human brain. I also agree and don't understand why their aren't more teachers period not just at UH that speak two languages because it is a huge necessity especially in this day and age. Many students are growing up in family households that only speak one language- their native language and it's becoming harder and harder for them to adapt especially when their homeroom teacher cannot help them nor provide any type of tools for teaching them. I have taken your advise and edit my blog 2 adding more about research and taking out so much about teaching. I understand your points you've made and I think with more students taking this course they will get a better understanding of why bilingualism is so important as well.
DeleteThank you. I appreciate your comment and I would love to talk more about a possible Master Program for bilingual education that includes other languages beyond Spanish.
DeleteHi Jolie,
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned the importance of research in math and other subjects. You gave the example of the use of calculators. I agree, research is very important. Often times we teach students the way we were taught, and we repeat a cycle. It is current developmental research that usually helps us steer in a new direction and change the method we teach our students in. For example, research has shown and stressed the importance of discussing the process over the final product. That most learning occurs during the process and the discussion that happens throughout (Van De Wall, 2012). Research helps the teacher understand that sometimes the focus needs to shift, and as the next few generations evolve, the research and methods we use will too. In order to progress you must be up to date, and that is done with research. "Language is probably the most complex set of skills one could ever seek to acquire," therefore it is important that there is research to help guide someone and help make sense of what is being studied and processing all the stimuli and parts associated with learning a new language (Brown and Lee, 2015, p. 51). A teacher must be willing to dig deep and understand language and its multiple layers, along with the strategies successful to learning it. This is answered through research as well.
Hello Norah,
DeleteThank you for your kind words. I think your right as well most teachers are only teaching the way they were taught but to me that's the root of the problem. i feel like with a generation constantly evolving and growing, especially with technology than teachers need to do research and change. Teachers need to find ways to teach multiple ways. According to Brown and Lee, 2015, pg. 50, "when comparing research and teaching practices, research guides most of my teachers’ ways of teaching." This needs to be their philosophy and they should be aiming to be more of a productive teacher by providing as much research as they can. I think instead of all the worksheets Brown and Lee want teachers to research on how to do projects and interactive assignments to help students learn and engage in their assignments. I mean thinking back don't you recall more of your projects and group assignments than your worksheets? Can't you remember the lesson, planning, and executing way better than just simply filling out an worksheet?
Hey Julie,
DeleteI just want to say I absolutely love what you say. I agree. I definitely remember more of my interactive projects and assignments over worksheets. The more creative the thought and engaging, the more I remember. Teacher's should be aware of the research and provide new engaging ways for students to learn the information. The more up to date the teacher is with research the better a teacher can use new inventive strategies in their instruction.
Hi Meijoly,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your response on research. It seems as though you are passionate behind the words you speak. You made a great point when you asked why are teachers not using more than one method to teach. I completely agree with you. As a teacher, I will make sure to get to know my students individually and find out how each one best learns. I strongly believe this will make my classroom successful. Another great point you made about job applications asking about bilingualism. I never thought about that, I always have to put no though. If teachers took time to research, they would find that some students that do not necessarily speak English as well as others need extra help. Maybe the teachers should have more one on one time with the students that struggle with ESL, or maybe have an aid come in to assist during certain lessons. But again this would require a teacher to do research. Not only should a teacher do research to learn about their class, they should evaluate the different types of teaching: Grammar based, direct method, classical method, etc. There are many different options a teacher has to explore. Finally, teachers can also research different ways to modify a lesson for those that are below level, ESL, or even above level. Teachers should come up with creative ways to make learning fun and not just like the typical Classical Method and use textbooks all the time.
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DeleteJessica,
DeleteFirst I would like to say thank you for taking the time out and reading my post. Yes, I am very passionate about students getting the proper help they need and require especially the ESL students. I agree with you sometimes providing all the things the teacher needs can be time consuming and involve them to do research but I figure if it helps the student become a better student than why not? Many times when these teachers don't do the research to help these students it's the student who ends up suffering years after not that teacher; but its because that teacher didn't do his/her job to its entity. "Language is probably the most complex set of skills one could ever seek to acquire," therefore it is important that there is research to help guide someone and help make sense of what is being studied and processing all the stimuli and parts associated with learning a new language (Brown and Lee, 2015, p. 51). Wouldn't you agree a lot of these students are looking for the the same treatment and equality as everyone else. They just want to feel needed and like they belong. Teachers need to do a better job educated ALL students researching on the ways to help ALL students.
Hi Jolie, your post is both interesting and inspiring. I would also like to see a change, which would mainly be beneficial for our students. I recently learned that most teachers are guilty of teaching the way they have learned it. Also, as humans, we need to keep in mind that traditions tend to be hard to break away from. I’m not saying that it’s not possible, but it will take some time.
ReplyDeleteShawn, I am glad to read your blog entry 2. I think it is really important for children to have cognitive skills through learning another language. For different research, teachers can find different strategies for students. In another hand, it is necessary for children to learn another language at an early age.
ReplyDelete