ESL Teacher Reflection #2

     This past week I spent time in an ESL teacher's class. I observed her teaching methods, and I tried to help students when I could provide help. During the class period students filled out a worksheet that talked about their family, what they like to do, 5 words that described them, their favorite food, what they miss about their country, and what they want to do while in the United States. The worksheet also had the students draw out what they wrote down. Many of the younger students who have had less ESL instruction did not know many of the words on the work sheet. When this occurred the teacher simply told them what it said, and gave examples of what could go in each box. This helped many of the students understand what to write, but it also gave them an answer to simply copy.
     I found it interesting that when students didn't know what to put in the box they simply just became talkative, and changed the subject. In my opinion this was done in order to kill time, and it worked. It was also very interesting that some of the students did their drawings before they wrote the words to match. This helped the students designate and narrow down the words they wanted to use, as well those that they needed help with. I connected this idea with some of the concepts that we have covered in class. By using words as well as pictures on the worksheet the ESL teacher gave students a different opportunity to get their point across. I think that this was a very smart method (especially for the younger students) the begin to break the language barrier, and to help students learn the English words to fit their thoughts. As a future teacher if I want to engage all of my students (of all ages and current language abilities) I will have to find interactive ways to apply assignments to everyone. I think the teacher i observed did a great job of this.