A Reflection on Academic Language In and Outside the Classroom
Since LLED 360 first began I had been wondering exactly what the course would be about. It wasn’t until last classes demonstration that I started to have glimpses of what it was all about. The demonstration was to partner up with another classmate who was not in your same cohort and try and get them to draw something that was related to your specific field of expertise. I being a Theatre cohort paired up with a student from Social Studies. He had asked me to draw China and I had asked him to draw a Proscenium Arch. The amount of struggle, although it was fun, was surprising! I did not think it would be such a challenge to essentially have my partner draw a wall with a large hole in the middle and I knew this was because of my inability to effectively convey what I was trying to describe. After class I had reflected on the class and understood that situations would often arise like these and that was a hurdle that I will have to deal with. I just did not know how often these situations would occur and it couldn’t have been more apparent the following day.
After a class the following day a large group, which included myself, met outside to discuss a video project that we were going to work on. The group comprised of two different cohorts, Theatre and English. One classmate, whom is a fellow theatre student teacher, was discussing with the group on how we should organize the video sequences and to do that a storyboard would be an effective way to organize. As he spoke he paused briefly and asked, “does everyone know what a storyboard is?” As he was speaking I had understood all the terminology he was referring to being immersed in it myself and did not think twice about whether or not others knew as well. I responded to his question, “yes” as did others from the theatre group but everyone else remained silent! No one knew! It blew me away! I also thought it was great that the gentleman speaking could sense that others were confused by what he was saying and took the time to make sure everyone was on the same page.
It was a simple situation outside the classroom and controlled demonstrations that I really began to understand what LLED 360 will be about and the effectiveness it will have on me as I pursue my goal to become a Theatre teacher! Looking forward to the year ahead and the challenges it will bring! Even if it is just describing what a Proscenium Arch is.