English Pills

This week I am writing on an article I found entitled "English Pills ESL Learning Tool for Android" by Martin Brinkman. This article outlined a new application for Android devices designed for speakers of non-English languages to increase their learning in a fun and non traditional way. He mentions that many times when learning a new language it is centered around grammar, spelling, writing, reading, and conversation, but things such as jokes, idioms, symbols, etc. are left out. This application offers something textbooks cannot. Students can simply log on to English pills, choose a category, and look for an explanation on whatever joke or symbol they are confused on.
There are six different categories students can look through to find information.

I think this is a wonderful application for technology savvy students in a new country, especially college students. It would make sense for this to be available in an app form, as many students will choose to use it on their cellphones. I do think for user ability purposes though, it needs to be available across all types of phones- android and iphone.

Source: http://www.ghacks.net/2016/10/26/english-pills-esl-learning-tool-for-android/

Text Messages to Teach English

The article I am writing about this week is about adult ESL education. A pilot program in New York is using text messaging and phone calls to check understanding with adult students in an ESL program. It works in this manner: lessons are pre-recorded and whenever the students want to listen to the lesson, they call the number provided. The students are then asked questions that they answer via text message. If they get the questions correct, they move onto the next unit. If they get the question wrong, the instructor calls them personally, and explains what the student is not understanding. The program is free, except what is charged by minutes and text messages. The purpose is for students to go at their own speed, and for it to be low tech so anybody can access it regardless of their income or technology ability.

Initially, 300 people signed up for the pilot program in three different parts of NY state. The state said it has gone over so well because there is a very high demand for adult English language programs. They also said it is nice to have it offered through phones and not in a classroom setting so parents don't have to find childcare. By the end of the lessons, all lessons are in English and students are able to navigate in primarily all English.

I think this program is a wonderful opportunity for working parents who are trying to learn English and better themselves. I also think it is wonderful that NY is offering this program for free for so many people who need it, since it is in such high demand. Some people may really need this program over phone calls and text messages, and may be thankful that it is done in this manner. I think offering it also in an online format would also be helpful too, for students who have the capability. Overall, I think it is a great program.


Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/new-york-state-offers-english-lessons-via-text-and-phone-calls_us_565c6d48e4b072e9d1c2663e

Texas in Desperate Need of Bilingual Teachers

The article I chose this week was a news article from the Dallas Morning News, discussing the desperate need for bilingual teachers in the state of Texas. The article mainly followed a teacher named Olivia Mendez talking about her life as a student first and now as an educator. She mentions as a student she was always translating and telling her parents what the teacher was saying, and someday she wished to be a teacher who could translate herself so the student would not have the burden of translating. One in every five students in Texas struggle with the English language, and classrooms are stacked at about 46 students to one bilingual or ESL teacher.

The article also mentions that to decrease this incredible divide, districts often use teacher aides and long term substitutes who are natives and speak native the native tongue. The problem arising with this is these paraprofessionals do not have bachelors degrees. Teachers being hired in this area are not ESL certified, and have to rely on paraprofessionals to translate, or the few ESL teachers in the building who are spread very thin. ESL teachers are calling home to parents for other teachers, sitting in on conferences to translate, and ending their careers much earlier than expected because of the surmounting pressure that has been placed on their shoulders.

Districts have started coming up with incentives to try to fix the problems. Some incentives include salary increases for teachers who will get their ESL or bilingual certifications. Other programs that have been introduced are ones sending paraprofessionals back to school to become teachers. These programs failed when the tests for bilingual certification changed from a simple language test to a content test. Overcoming the tests seemed like the biggest challenge to these districts.

The article ended with saying the state has not come to a conclusion on the problem, but they will continue to work on it. It is so sad this has become such a huge problem for the state of Texas over the years, and so many other states. There seems to be such a lack of bilingual teachers. I remember when I was in college there being a really big push for special education teachers. I believe there will become a new push for bilingual teachers. We need more than just ESL teachers, we need teachers who can communicate to students in more than one language. It is a shame that so many students are being left behind and not reached because we as educators are not equipped or ready to reach them.


Source: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2016/09/28/texas-desperate-bilingual-teachers-answering-call

Tidal Wave Of ESL Training

This week I found an article on the great need of ESL training in the Rhode Island area. There has been a large shift in the population of people, and 2 out of every 3 students are of Latino heritage. Rhode Island's public education foundation realized their teachers were not equipped to handle these changes and decided to do something about it. They are sending over 60 teachers back to school to becomes certified in ESL or become bilingual teachers, and setting aside $500,000 to train teachers in the highest needs districts.

I found this article saddening in a way, but also very inspiring. It saddens me that there are so many students in many districts, counties, and states in our country that are not getting the services or education they need because we as educators are not equipped to handle them. It is just not fair for the student. For example, I have two hearing support students in my classroom this year. Although they are not "ESL" per say and are technically labeling "hearing support" they are basically ESL. English is their second language, as one of my student's is completely deaf and signs American Sign Language, while the other can partially hear and signs Pigeon Sign Language. We are lacking in interpreters in our district for students who are deaf, and it has been extremely difficult on my students. They understand and sign different sign languages so having one interpreter is extremely difficult, for them and the interpreter. There is no one truly qualified to take the second role. My students are constantly falling through the cracks, and I am the only one there to pick them up but, I have a hard time communicating with them. Everything is also slowed down because of the lack of communication between signing. I imagine this would be the same with having an ESL student in your classroom, or in the case of Rhode Island, having half of your class being ESL students. I get so frustrated sometimes with the lack in signing, I want to learn sign language to just being able to shorten the communication time and do it myself.

I can only imagine how grateful those teachers in Rhode Island are that the state is giving them the opportunity to go back to school and do just that! For this very reason, this article brings me great inspiration! I think it is wonderful the state is offering a chance for teachers to better themselves, their classrooms, their students, and their all around education system in one foul swoop, and they find it important enough to foot the bill!

Source: http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20160929/500000-for-esl-training-aimed-at-easing-tidal-wave-of-need