After class last week I called my mom. She's used Picasa...but not much. She thinks the program is nice, but she has other things to work on. I'm undecided yet.
Esther asked us about how the things we've looked at apply to TESL. I'd been thinking about it, but I don't necessarily have an answer. I usually start with my experiences as a Language Arts teacher. I wonder how each thing would work with my variety of kids in the room (low level ESL to English Geniuses in the same room). I more often see how it wouldn't work in that situation. Then I try to apply to just an ESL room, which is the actual goal. However, I don't know.
First of all, when does a student become intermediate or advanced in English proficiency. Everyone talks about it, but I have no idea what the boundary is. I find it incredibly frustrating to try to say, "well in my beginning level..." because I don't really know what that means. I'm wondering if any of the CALL ideas we've looked at could work with beginning students.
Oh, and about Chris's presentation. I loved it and hated it at the same time. It was clear and easy to follow (well done) I got frustrated at the repetition of everything because I understood the spanish the first time through. Which makes me wonder, how do we avoid this trap in our ESL classrooms which will have a variety of levels?
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2 comments:
It's good to know that something won't work. I think that's the teaching experience speaking. Also, you CAN think about how what we've been learning would work for YOUR students, whether ESL/English geniuses.
Re. your question about proficiency levels, there's an actual definition for them, which you will learn in your MODL 570/571 courses.
Interesting point about your frustration with Picasa in Spanish because you DO understand the language. Very good question about how to cater to all proficiency levels. Perhaps your frustration has to do with the fact that Chris was targetting the absolute beginner in his presentation, while you won't necessary be doing that in your own classroom. You would know what the proficiency levels of your students are.
I completely understand when you said that you think of your personal teaching experiences with high school language arts. I think it's natural and human nature to always reflect the lesson or what you're learning to your past teaching experience. I do the same thing:)
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