Judging on an unfair playing field.

Children end up being the ones who suffer with these decisions.

 Aria by: Richard Rodriguez-Reflection
        
In reading this piece I could not help but have mixed feelings. Speak English in a classroom or teach in a native language? Were either of these the correct answer? I feel like there is no definite solution to this problem and a huge grey area where children get lost. Children that we expect to learn certain things, at certain rates ,at certain times. It makes me wonder how can we teach school subjects and certain curriculum to children when they don't speak the same language as the teacher?

This reading has come to me at the best time possible. Before my service learning work I would have said "all children need to speak English in order to learn in U.S. schools,and they can learn as the go". Fresh of the cusp of volunteering my opinion on this is somewhat different.During my time in my volunteer school all of the children that I worked with were ESL (English as a second language). My heart went out to these children who were all seemingly very bright but lost in the complexities of English.These children were being asked by the school system to learn a subject and English at the same time. The teacher I worked with had an amazing way of handling this but often this seemed like an impossible feat. Many words that we take for granted as knowing come not so easily for someone learning English "as they go". I can not even imagine being a child often times coming to a new country, being put in school and expected to learn my subjects in a language that is foreign to me. This reading made me realize we need to prepare these students more. We need to give them more of a base for English and then have their subjects work off of that. They need to understand the words we are using in order to get the ideas that were saying. In the piece Aria, Rodriguez paints a picture of what the new normal was for his family. Only speaking to each other in English many of their emotions were lost in the words. I can see how this would be something that would make someone not want to speak anything but the language they were born into. I feel that a family should not have to give up their identity completely but possibly embrace a new culture with their own. I feel as though schools need to invest more in their students by preparing them better for their education.Creating a level playing field for all. Giving everyone a fair shot.

Many of our ancestors struggled with English.

For instance I feel Richard should have been able to be called Ricardo, it is not fair for him to loose his identity. However more formal education should have been given to him and his sibling to learn English and then once they had a basis for it, teach them their subjects.I think it's great that his family had a strong commitment to learning English but I don't think they should have had to loose their individuality in the process.However I do feel because of the commitment the family made to speak "a public language" the children were able to thrive.I feel it is the part of the family to embrace English (as well as their own language) since they brought their children to a country were it is primarily spoken, but as Educators it is our job to make the adjustments and accommodations so these children can succeed.

I feel this was somewhat of a unique reading compared to Johnson or even Kozol.This piece in the end seemed indifferent. It was not pro or con ESL teaching and unlike the readings we have covered it was not as cut and dry. Unlike Kozol and Johnson that presented many pieces of information towards their point, this piece did not push you in any particular direction. It was left up to much interpretation of the reader. It was only because of the experiences that I have had through service learning that I could make a educated statement.


A great website that is teaching some great techniques.Techniques on teaching ESL students

• Question for the class

Which is the best way to teach ESL children? What is the best way to have an understanding between teacher and student? How can a teacher reach a student that speaks another language?