Reflection Chapters 1 – 3
The insight presented in chapters 1-3 was incredibly informative but the detail through which it was delivered allowed me to appreciate the challenges presented. Specific examples given including figurative speech, sentence structure, and challenges associated with both brick and mortar vocabulary now allow me to become conscientious about particular aspects of my academic language.
I found it especially interesting the attention called to the multiple denotations and connotations associated with our routine language that we take for granted. It has encouraged me to work on ensuring that students understand these various meanings, can contextualize the word employment as well as understand any associated attached cultural and societal implications. I have learned to recognize my own cultural bias and can now begin to improve my awareness about assumptions made in my classroom. As soon as we take for granted a students ability to “read between the lines”, the student is no longer to follow the lesson and can quickly lose confidence entirely in being able to ever understand. At the same time, it is important to consider the students from various cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Remembering to not take for granted what I would consider typical family and home dynamics do not apply to every student is also needed when using various techniques for lessons and interactions.
Being able to balance instructional techniques to account for both students learning English as well as those from various cultural and socio-economic backgrounds is a skill essential for us as teachers to acquire.