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[email protected]
Joined: 27 Oct 2010
Posts: 30
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 Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2015 3:14 pm Post subject: ESL vs. English Language Arts |
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| Can anyone clarify the difference between ESL teaching and English Language Arts teaching? Is it applicable for ESL students to learn language arts? Thanks. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2015 4:08 am Post subject: |
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| [email protected] wrote: |
| Can anyone clarify the difference between ESL teaching and English Language Arts teaching? Is it applicable for ESL students to learn language arts? Thanks. |
ESL primarily focuses on developing the four langauge skills (i.e., speaking, listening, reading, and writing), and grammar is presented as a separate component rather than in context. On the other hand, accordng to Merriam-Webster, English language arts (ELA) deals with "the subjects (as reading, spelling, literature, and composition) that aim at developing the student's comprehension and capacity for use of written and oral language."
ELA is what's taught to native speakers and English language learners (ELLs) in primary and secondary schools in the US. In other words, it's what's known as the typical English class. Limited-English proficient (LEP) and ELL students receive English language support in order to fully integrate into general content/subject courses and meet the state standards for ELA/literacy. In fact, ELA is what gives students the skills to write various reports and essays and read/comprehend written text in their other subjects. ELA teachers are licensed to teach the subject at either the primary or secondary school level. |
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[email protected]
Joined: 27 Oct 2010
Posts: 30
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| Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2015 7:35 am Post subject: ELA vs. ESL Application |
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Thanks Nomad Soul.
I just want to get your opinion and/or expertise if teaching language arts in Vietnam to second language learners would be a good idea and practical. Or would it be better if they learned ESL first to a certain level, then begin language arts? Is it even practical at all in a country whose second language is English? |
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skarper
Joined: 12 Oct 2006
Posts: 477
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| Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2015 8:23 am Post subject: |
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I would be skeptical of trying to teach what is essentially a US school system approach for native speakers to any English as foreign language learners - particularly in Vietnam.
Frankly - there are plenty of materials, methods and approaches in TEFL without importing ideas from other fields. We already know what to do. The problem is that the students/schools/language centres make it nearly impossible to employ TEFL methods effectively.
Ways they do this include but are not limited to...
1] Untrained/semi-trained/inexperienced staff. Plenty of qualified, experienced teachers exist but the employers generally prefer cheaper alternatives.
2] Classes with too many students - over 12 is very inefficient. 6-10 is ideal.
3] Too many different levels and sometimes ages in the same class. High school kids cannot be mixed with working age adults or even university students.
4] Inadequate, outdated materials
5] Miserable support in terms of photocopiers, computers, printers etc. Even a quiet teachers room for preparation/marking.
6] No disciplinary procedure for students with bad attitudes. Students who are persistently late, absent, speak Vietnamese in class, do not complete assignments when essential to the course need to be sanctioned in some way. They are generally not.
How much of this can ever be addressed is doubtful. And are worldwide industry problems not unique to Vietnam.
I know this is off topic OP and don't want to derail your thread. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2015 9:13 am Post subject: |
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| [email protected] wrote: |
| I just want to get your opinion and/or expertise if teaching language arts in Vietnam to second language learners would be a good idea and practical. Or would it be better if they learned ESL first to a certain level, then begin language arts? Is it even practical at all in a country whose second language is English? |
For clarification, I don't teach in Asia.
Jobs teaching ELA are generally at IB or American-curriculum, international schools serving native and near-native English speaking dependents of expats from the US, Canada, etc. In fact, the following is from an expired ad for ELA teachers:
| Quote: |
Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
Independent/Private School: IB PYP, IBDP
Grades: Pre-School/Early Childhood, Elementary 1-3, Elementary 4-6, Middle School/Junior High, High School
Teaching field: Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, English/Language Arts
Experience Years: 2 yrs
Qualifications: Native English speaker + relevant degree + 2 years experience + state teachers license
US$ 30,000 - US$ 50,000 (gross) per annum (based on qualifications and experience)
(Do an Internet search on english language arts vietnam.) |
Keep in mind that ESL/EFL focuses on learning/acquiring a new language; whereas, ELA builds on literacy in the students' (already acquired) English language. Apples-n-oranges. That said, EFL students who are advanced in their speaking and writing could benefit from writing basic book reviews, argumentative and compare/contrast essays with APA or MLA citations, science reports, etc. But this generally falls under English for Academic Purposes (EAP), which is what's taught in university English language programs to prep students for their academic studies in English-medium universities. Case in point, I've taught EAP overseas to graduate and doctoral scholarship students who are now studying in US, Aussie, and British universities.
So in answer to your questions, no, it's not practical to teach ELA (English as a subject) unless the situation fits the above contexts. |
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[email protected]
Joined: 27 Oct 2010
Posts: 30
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| Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2015 3:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks guys. If anyone else can provide their input, it would be great. Just want to find as much information as I can. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2015 6:24 pm Post subject: |
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| [email protected] wrote: |
| If anyone else can provide their input, it would be great. Just want to find as much information as I can. |
I'm curious. Why such great interest in teaching ELA/literacy to EFL learners? |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2015 6:49 pm Post subject: |
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I've worked in university systems which have numerous partner universities for over 15 years. We wouldn't hire an ELA teacher to teach EFL - it's a quite different context. Knowing a lot about the language is no guarantee whatsoever that one can convey how to use the language to non-native speakers.
I suppose the OP has a degree in ELA and is now trying to get hired for an EFL position. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2015 7:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| I suppose the OP has a degree in ELA and is now trying to get hired for an EFL position. |
ELA generally isn't a degree major; most ELA teachers in the US have either a BA in English or in secondary education with an English language arts (literacy) emphasis. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2015 7:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Then it's a mystery:-) |
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TRH
Joined: 27 Oct 2011
Posts: 340
Location: Hawaii
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| Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2015 8:41 pm Post subject: |
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| nomad soul wrote: |
| English language arts (ELA) deals with "the subjects (as reading, spelling, literature, and composition) that aim at developing the student's comprehension and capacity for use of written and oral language." |
Based on this concise definition, the only context that I can see ELA teaching skills being applied intensively in the ESL industry (which is what it is) in Vietnam is with students attempting to move from high level 6 IELTS scores to levels 7-8. This applies particularly to the writing and speaking segments. Unfortunately for the OP, one must pay dues for a few years, teaching beginners and children, before even being considered for such work. |
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Prof.Gringo
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!
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| Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2015 2:24 am Post subject: |
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| nomad soul wrote: |
| Quote: |
| I suppose the OP has a degree in ELA and is now trying to get hired for an EFL position. |
ELA generally isn't a degree major; most ELA teachers in the US have either a BA in English or in secondary education with an English language arts (literacy) emphasis. |
OP is a native-speaker from Canada who was "active" in 2011/10 on these forums. |
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