ESOL Requirements
We just had a faculty meeting that centered around students who use English as a second language. We are now supposed to put numeric codes on our lesson plans to demonstrate how we are modifying our teaching to accomodate these students. In addition to this all science teachers have to take 60 hours of ESOL methods training. I've had this training two years ago and it was, to put it kindly, not helpful in assisting us in teaching students who barely speak English.
I have one student this term who is from Madrid, Spain. I occasionally practice my fractured Spanish on her, which causes her to burst out with laughter. This student is currently making a "B" in Anatomy class so I must be doing one heck of a job helping her to overcome her language deficits. Yeah, sure! Education appears to be getting to the point that actual teaching is a minor task amidst all of the silly chores we must now carry out so our school will achieve politically correct, state test taking superlative nirvana. As for my feelings about ESOL students, I don't think it is too much to ask that they be taught English so they can do the work required of them without special treatment. Those who are struggling to understand the English language should be placed in intensive English courses designed to get them up to speed with the English language as quickly as possible. These courses should take the place of elective courses they are currently taking until they can demonstrate proficiency in speaking, reading, writing, and understanding English at a level equal that of the average student their age. That's my opinion.
1 Comments:
I am totally with you on replacing those elective courses. With the increased influx of Mexican kiddos into our schools here, there is not even the motivation to learn to speak English for social purposes, much less academic.
My M.Ed. is concentrated in ESL/Bilingual. What pissed me off was the state changing the regulations so that anyone can get certified just by taking the test. It used to be that you had to take a zillion classes...aughh. So now everyone is certified and knows exactly how to help these students. Yeah.
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