ExC-ELL: Instructional Obsession

When was the last time you felt like exploding because of a new instructional practice?

For me, it has been about a month and the fire has only built up since then.

Languages and Children: Chapter 9

This chapter shows how much cultural emphasis can be a vehicle for implicitly learning a language, as well as the greatest motivation to learn it. I love the idea of starting with a culturally integrative lesson to help teach vocabulary and language. As Curtain and Dahlberg allude, it can help bridge a gap that ELLs might fear crossing: knowing more about the country in which they now live. The Classroom Exchanges idea jumped out as particularly interesting as I suspect it would get the adrenaline pumping in the veins of these young learners: a great recipe for learning success. I also love the ideas that integrate technology and uniting students with other students around the globe.

Welcome!

Thank you for joining me on the path of learning more about learning! Language has always been a fascinating concept to grasp. I've taken a few classes in undergrad that cater to this passion, but now I'm finally learning more about the methods involved in learning a language and why our brains react to this process the way that they do!

This blog is starting out as an assignment for EDIS 5480 at the University of Virginia -- an ELL methods overview course. However, as my time spent working with ELL students this year has been so rewarding, I suspect I will have many real world stories and contributions I can make once I begin my career as a teacher.

Here we go!