Teacher Discussion Forums

[Bethany.Blaine]

The issue of incorporating/allowing students to use their native language in the classroom is something I'm still very unsure about while studying to become an ESL teacher. While I FULLY support and encourage the use of students' L1 at home, I'm uncertain whether or not to allow future students to use it on a consistent basis. I would like to teach elementary school children and I am aware that students at this age will be on a variety of language levels in both their L1 and L2. Therefore, I am unsure about my approach to having an English-only classroom. Because I am not bilingual I would be timid to allow frequent L1 use due to the fact that I would not be able to understand my students. I would also fear that they would become too reliant on their L1 and be unable/unwilling to learn the new language. On the other hand, I do not want students to shy away from learning English because they are afraid/feel uncomfortable about making mistakes in front of other students. Does anyone have any suggestions? Is there anyone who is having or has had a similar dilemma?

[Madeline]

Bethany,

Hey!!!

As a new ESL teacher I found that my students love to speak in their native language all the time. The students I teach are 4 and 5th graders. All the children I teach speak Spanish. That is their native language. They feel comfortable speaking the language around me because they know I understand them. Nevertheless, when I am teaching I tell them that I want them to speak in English. Sometimes they slip and answer my questions in Spanish. Not because they can't answer in English, I think they just forget that we are in ESL class. I tell them that when I am not teaching ESL they are more then welcome to speak to me in Spanish. Now, this would be different if I taught students that speak other languages. I would be timid too. I know some ESL teachers in my school that do not speak Spanish and they do just fine. As a matter a fact they learned some Spanish from their students. So let them teach you their language once in a while.

[filmmaker]

I made a film which you an watch online for free about how bilingual teachers can help focus bilingual students to study language more in depth. Elsewhere in this forum, I posted details about my films. Poetry Inside Out is an example of a successful program that helps students compare words in each language.

See: http://www.kqed.org/arts/programs/trulyca/shorts/episode.jsp?essid=85031

I also posted about what happens in an English-only environment in the English only vs. bilingual education posting. I hope the free film above will be helpful.