Upon entering this class I didn’t quite understand the need or use for it. I understood the need for more teachers all around and I didn’t really look into the specific need of ESL classes. From my previous studies I’ve learned everything from, teaching a class with varying knowledge levels to teaching special populations. It wasn’t until I began my studies in this Second language methodology class that I saw a whole new world around me. Since the very first lesson in this class I’ve learned and have grown in places I didn’t think I needed to as a future educator, I’ve gained valuable lessons and strategies from my studies and also my fellow classmates. I feel secure in my knowledge of English Language Learners, the different cultures, strategies, and how they learn to adapt to another language has increased tremendously, and has even helped me in my own future classroom endeavors to better understand my future ELL students.
There were a lot of different pieces of information I learned in this class. I developed a newfound confidence in my teaching and my journey to becoming fluent in a second language. Seeing how important and how much I can change the life of your students I feel that EVERYONE who has a passion to become an educator should look into becoming fluent in another language. Personally I feel that teaching , learning , and knowing another language helps you tremendously in every aspect of your professional practice. One of the most important things I learned was the importance of a student teacher relationship, and understanding each culture of every single one of your students and how to thrive within certain situations. Understanding different cultures and the home life of my students helps when you are trying to figure out how to best educate that student and much their surrounding can affect their learning.
This class is important, to aspiring teachers to and anyone who wants to work with people in the matter. I feel that being ESL certified can give me a good foundation of knowledge about how to best help my ELL students learn and help educate others around me on an everyday basis. Unfortunately I do not anticipate into immediately entering the teaching field, but I do plan on working in sports management and administration positions. I am 100% positive that knowing another language and learning how to put it to use will help me tenfold when I am working with students and student-athletes around the world. Therefore I feel that anyone and everyone looking to partake in a professional position should learn another language or become ELL certified.
As for the aspects of the class, I feel that there is a lot of information that goes untold , and is deemed “prior knowledge”. Unfortunately a lot of things fall through the cracks and as a student I don’t tend to notice what you as a teacher actually want from me until I receive feedback after a grade has been finalized. The chapters of the book can be quite long and while reading its hard to pinpoint what is important and what really is just words. The rubrics help a lot , but unfortunately the feeling of having to teach ourselves is something you cant really avoid in an online class. I feel that the bog postings are overly complicated for no reason, if there was a turn it in link or something we can secure we could avoid the whole “who posted on whose post”. I feel that if we were given some sort of reading guide with key terms, or even a study guide of some type (especially on the observation paper) It would’ve helped me not only understand the assignment better , but also help me understand the meaning and what I should get out of it.
This course has impacted my teaching philosophy by helping me widen my eyes on a somewhat less talked about subject . I now add I’m my philosophy on how important it is to not only communicate with your students but to mean what you say , if that means talking backwards, sideways, or even in a different language I will do whatever it takes for my students to succeed. I understand my role and new found philosophy and will work to the best of my abilities to ensure an amazing learning environment for all involved.
