Spanish class has now become a mandatory part of being a high schooler. Sadly, it has not been particularly successful due to the fact that most kids don’t utilize the information causing the course to just be a big waste of time; time that could be spent in other more essential subjects such as English, Math and Science. But not only would this be of interest for the students, but the school as a whole as well because it would save tons of money. Ultimately, this adjustment would help everyone and should be put in place in all high schools. Think about the times you have used the Spanish language outside of the classroom. Unless your family speaks Spanish, most of you don’t typically use the language often. Due to this, the class
Teachers are forcing kids away from taking specific classes due to bias opinions, which is why for many schools in the United States language is not looked at as a priority. Picture growing up in a small town, in Maine, which in the data table from Shin and Kominski’s report showed to be a state with the least amount of citizens that spoke a language other than English as their primary language, shows that for some people language is hard to see has being important. In High School some have found a passion in language but don’t receive the proper curriculum that would allow them to succeed. Instead of introducing language in High School, our school systems should focus on adding it into the curriculum that is taught in elementary school and middle school. By starting when you are young, the time you are graduating high school you can speak at least one other language and classify yourself as bilingual. Dianne Steinbach explained it as, “Something that many of us took for granted when we were younger people is now disappearing” (First Speakers:Restoring). Since there is such a large increase in language diversity
Ms. Tate is very fluent in Spanish and feels that knowing that language has helped her in becoming a more effective teacher the Latin Americans ELLs. She can tell if a student has some hang ups in the English language and therefore can recognize where the problem lies. She can see if they are not getting a certain language pattern and why, then she can compare the two languages and focus on how to get through the barrier by explaining the differences between the two patterns. Tate also says using the Krashen method where there is more comprehensible input and not everything is based on output produces better results than when she taught before and students had to listen for a long time before producing anything. She loves the curriculum we have: Sopris, Direct Instruction for true Spoken English. It is based on Krashen and gives comprehensible input in repetitive patterns in small doses. It runs
1. The point of taking Spanish or any other foreign language is crucial in education. Knowing a foreign language can come in handy when you're visiting a foreign country and it is becoming an increasingly needed skill in the diversifying Untied States. Learning a foreign language like Spanish can also help you with your English by making you think harder when reading and analyzing the context and sentence structure of things written in both languages. Employers and colleges also look for Spanish speakers because an understanding of the language not only shows your intellect and your ability to learn but it also makes you valuable in a country that has a rising Spanish population like the United States. Besides all the benefits from taking a Spanish class it is also a lot of fun to learn. For me I have always been fascinated
In the article, Speak Spanish, You’re in America!: El Huracan over language and Culture, Juan Gonzalez, a journalist and broadcaster of the daily show, Democracy Now, describes how bilingualism has impacted the United States’ modern education system. He describes an amendment that would constitute English as the official in the United States, which he believes can be a potential threat to the educational system. Gonzalez suggests that instead of having an amendment that constitutes English as the national language, American schools should implement Spanish to highlight the importance of being bilingualism in the American educational system. A constitutional amendment declaring English as the national language would be damaging to bilingual students because it would limit their capability of communicating in English or their native language, and therefore they have would fall behind in classes and will not succeed in the American educational system. To highlight the importance of bilingualism, even more the educational system should implement a variety of languages.
For a period of time I was an ESOL (English as a second language) classroom teacher. This meant part my class was native English speakers and the rest was native Spanish speakers. All of my little first graders had an entire year of culture appreciation and learning to be patient with one another. They learned about holidays which they both celebrated and holidays they did not have in common. When certain Spanish speaking students would get tired of finding the correct English words they would speak in Spanish.
The language development of the students in my class come from Spanish speaking homes, I only have seven proficient English speakers, some of my students are reading below grade level. Most of the students are able to communicate, while
The reader disagrees with Rodriguez’s idea that other languages besides the primary language of a society cannot be used in the classroom. Rodriguez says that “it is not possible
If foreign language was not a required class, this individual may have never realized becoming a Spanish major was a more suitable fit. Going into the field that fits an individual best is extremely important for their future happiness and success.
The students' characteristics are that most of them are taking the class because it is an elective and they don't really need to take it and also for the Spanish-speaking students it is more of a burden to learn the more of the language as they "already know it" and his parents would rather have them speak English than Spanish. They are in America, so they must speak English and not Spanish anymore. I was, also, able to see some of the ones that are proud taking that class and happy that they can share and learn more of their
The first student that I conducted the lesson with was a girl I named Shiloh. Shiloh was an eight-year girl that was in the second grade, but would be entering in the third grade in the coming Fall. Her mother explained that she was an ESOL level two student. She was born in America, but both parents are Hispanic. The father is Cuban and the mother is from Venezuela. At home Shiloh’s family mainly communicates in Spanish. Shiloh’s mother explained that she wanted her daughter to speak Spanish at home because she does not want her to not learn Spanish or forget “where she comes from.” As I learned in TSOL I many parents do this this because they do not want their child
To often the teachers don't realize that language is just part of a greater culture. So they miss the point that understanding the complete culture of the students they are teaching needs to be comprehended. I would say, especially when dealing with ELL students who are very new in the USA. The teachers can confuse the lack of interference is a lack of interest, when actually the Hispanic culture values education a great deal and those who teach it. They see the teacher as the specialist and therefore respect that teacher’s decision almost explicitly. They also confuse what appears their lack of time for their children's schooling as a lack of interest in the student’s education. They work very long hours and end up showing up at off hours due to their challenging work schedules. However, if they send an older brother or uncle or grandparent in their place they are saying I am engaged though it may not appear so to the Anglo teacher. The item that will get them to respond more quickly
My observation purpose this week was to find out from my mentor how many ELL students were in her classroom. Ms. Zapata has thirteen students that are ELL (English Learning Learners), which concludes with it being her entire class. Furthermore, Ms. Zapata plans her lessons by having certain days where it’s Spanish day for two days and English days for two days as well, gathering this from a Bilingual Program her class is in. Although, on Friday it is a half day for English/Spanish. Resources are practiced in both languages so students are able to understand properly, there are times that students work one-on-one with Ms.
Anyone who studies Spanish will tell you it is an interesting foreign language. Not only because of the sound of it, pronunciations and the articulation but also because it is new to them. Spanish people do not study Spanish if they already know it. However, Spanish like other foreign languages has advantages and effects that are desirable and essential to a learner that one dare not ignore. Spanish is one of the most spoken languages in the entire world. It has millions of native speakers and more in different continents.
It is imperative that in order to live a noble life one must observe, grow, and learn the many ways of the world. In compliance with these three basics of living, that same individual can undergo dynamic changes; this is the beauty of life. This notion is demonstrated in an excerpt known as “Yarn” by Kyoko Mori, and also in a short poem called “Spanish Lessons” by Ted Kooser. The lives of two women are described as joyful and satisfied when they have both successfully learned new skills. That is to say, the authors of both these works contribute to a larger lesson that shall be learned throughout life, and that is, persistence is key to success. Experience is a never ending journey that takes you from being an amateur to a master at something; this means that experience rather than information is the gateway to new knowledge.
Finding jobs should be relatively easy to get by knowing Spanish. Imagine not needing to pay a translator to guide you throughout your vacation. When you’re able to communicate with people that doesn’t speak English, it truly is satisfying. Learning Spanish is a superb way to advance your tuition and academics. Students taking a Spanish class should be compulsory by cause of it supports you in your career, it’s neat exercise to the human brain, and vacationing around the world would be much more simple.