Recent Language Teaching Experience
After a much-needed stint in the army, I moved to Hawaii and earned my Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (aka, the new/better ESL). My student teaching was completed at Hawaii Literacy, a program that offers drop-in English language classes for adult learners, as well as provides other literacy services around the state.
During my final semester of graduate school, I learned I had been selected for a Fulbright Scholarship to teach English in Hungary. Unfortunately I was six months pregnant at the time, which led my declining the scholarship - still one of the hardest decisions of my life.
Instead of jet-setting off to Europe, I became an Adjunct Professor at Donnelly College in Kansas City, KS in the fall of 2014. My courses taught included ESL Reading & Writing (low level) and EAP Listening & Speaking (high).
At this time I am not instructing any English courses, but the subject is still of great interest to me. I try to keep abreast of the current issues in the field by reading and connecting with my language teacher friends. Please browse below for what I've seen/heard recently.
During my final semester of graduate school, I learned I had been selected for a Fulbright Scholarship to teach English in Hungary. Unfortunately I was six months pregnant at the time, which led my declining the scholarship - still one of the hardest decisions of my life.
Instead of jet-setting off to Europe, I became an Adjunct Professor at Donnelly College in Kansas City, KS in the fall of 2014. My courses taught included ESL Reading & Writing (low level) and EAP Listening & Speaking (high).
At this time I am not instructing any English courses, but the subject is still of great interest to me. I try to keep abreast of the current issues in the field by reading and connecting with my language teacher friends. Please browse below for what I've seen/heard recently.
Writing on TESOL
Maintaining Cultural Identity
As TESOL teachers we walk a delicate line between our students' lives in their native countries & language and their new English-speaking country & language learning attempts. I often find that English language learners also want to embrace the entirety of their new culture (style of dress, holidays/celebrations, food, pop culture, etc.) not just the language alone. While I commend them for this, I also fear they will lose so much of their native/previous culture that it will become unrecognizable. Something that many TESOL instructors struggle with is showing their students that their native culture is important, relevant to their identity and should be embraced as much for their (most likely) American one.
When I recently stumbled upon this article and series of photographs in the Washington Post, I felt so inspired. The pictures of the immigrants coming through Ellis Island are so hauntingly beautiful and seem to portray the immigrants' journeys and hardships in their own right. Articles and pictures like this can show students that despite what countries they come from, commonalities can be found in the immigrant experience. The distinction between the styles of dress, jewelry and the poses of the individuals emphasize that cultures are important and must not be lost because what makes us all different, also makes us the same. I feel that just looking at the photographs teaches me about the immigrant experience/native lands and increases my interest in places outside my American home. These immigrants and the ones currently located within the US have as much as to teach us as we have to teach them. I don't mind sharing my home with individuals that want to be here and can show me the positive aspects of our world abroad. 11/3/15
Dual-Language Programs in NYC
Want another reason why New York is a wonderful place to be a student? Here is an article from the NYT about the rise of dual-language programs in grade schools in New York City. In this case, native English speakers are enrolled in programs/classes where subjects are taught in two languages - English and one other (Spanish, French, Arabic, Chinese, Polish, Korean, etc.). The article lists several observed benefits to dual-language programs but also infers that more research needs to be done. Hiring qualified teachers and managing student anxiety are also issues with dual-language programs. As a student, I loved my Spanish classes (starting in middle school) and Spanish was my original college major. Of course, I went on to switch three times. This article makes me wonder about how my education would have been different if I started learning a second language earlier. 10/9/15
New "Toolkit" from the DoE
Love to see language learning & education issues in the popular media. Here is a recent article about a new toolkit put forth by the Department of Education. Let's hope this is implemented to students/ELLs get the "high-quality programs" they deserve in public schools. 9/23/15
Fun Reading from Abroad
Language teachers and students and those interested in the Fulbright program - Check out my wonderful friend/fellow HPU grad Sara Fowler's blog: Serendipitously Sara
Sara succeeded through the vigorous Fulbright application process and is currently teaching three courses & tutoring English in Andorra, a small country between France and Spain. 9/23/15
Sara succeeded through the vigorous Fulbright application process and is currently teaching three courses & tutoring English in Andorra, a small country between France and Spain. 9/23/15