Different points-of-view and ESL learners.

What are your reactions or experiences with point of view, perspectives, biases in history?

When I first read this question I thought, “I can’t think of any experiences I have had with point of view, perspectives or biases in history.” After thinking about this for a little longer I came up with a few ideas. My first experience I can recall towards being very biased was when 9/11 occurred. I remember the hatred I had for Muslims. There were a few Muslims in my high school and on 9/11, and the following days, people were so mean to them. They would not sit near them at lunch, they would not associate with them, they would write hate words on their lockers and do a variety of other mean things. Although I never participated in any of these things, I can’t say that I was totally innocent. I concealed these same feelings inside and when someone did something mean to a Muslim a small part of me thought they got what they deserved. Even a year after 9/11 I was in New York City. A cab driver stopped to give my family a ride and he was Muslim. I remember thinking, “Oh great. He is going to kill us.” Right now I know everyone reading this is thinking I am the meanest, heartless person in the world but I bet if you take a minute to stop and think about how you felt on 9/11 your feelings weren’t that much different from mine. It took me a couple of years to really understand that it wasn’t “Muslims” I hated, it was terrorist that just happened to be Muslim. This is the first time in my life I can really remember being biased and having to really work on getting over my biased thoughts towards a group of people.

I think a current biased that a lot of people currently share has to do with illegal immigrants. From my point of view I don’t appreciate the U.S. not taking a firmer stand on this issue because it affects our health care system, our education system and almost all areas of life. But if I take a minute and look at illegal immigrants’ perspectives they just want a better life for themselves and their families and they will risk their lives to come to a better country. Another point of view on this issue is, if they want to come into this country fine. But do it the legal way. This is a very sticky subject for most people, so I won’t elaborate further, but I do believe this is one issue that there are several different points-of-view. It just depends on whose perspective you are looking at.

How will you assist an English as a Second Language learner in your classroom?

Although we discussed this issue in depth in Dr. McKinney’s class I still believe assisting ESL students will take lots of hard work and will be a challenge. But with the right strategies, ESL learners can learn as much as other students in the classroom. Below are a few ideas on how to make an ESL student’s school experience the best it can be:
· Make the learner feel comfortable in taking language risks
· The teacher should focus on teaching students using authentic text and situations through the use of materials that have not been specifically produced for the purposes of language teaching such as manipulatives and note cards with pictures and the name of the object.
· Total Physical Response method
· Use lots of hands on learning such as computers, pictures, manipulatives.
· Provide ample wait time when questioning ESL learning
· Get to know the student
· Allow the student to share things about his culture to teach other students such as music, holidays, art. The student may be able to teach the other students some words in his/her native language.
· Don’t try and force the student to speak right way. He/She may be in the silent period.
· Work with the ESL teacher to differentiate instruction