The lived experience of teaching literacy to English language learners among experienced, mainstream, elementary teachers using a coculturation perspective

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Jennifer Stegall

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] Given the growing number of English Language Learners (ELL) in elementary schools and their potential struggles with literacy development, this qualitative phenomenology used a coculturation perspective to investigate the lived experience of teaching literacy to ELLs in mainstream elementary classrooms. In-depth interviews were conducted to learn about teaching literacy to ELLs among experienced, mainstream elementary teachers in the Midwest and South. Three shared experiences emerged: a) teachers negotiated a range of personal emotions, b) teachers drew on relationships as resources, and c) teachers perceptions of literacy for ELLs evolved. Findings indicated that participants realized they will probably have ELLs in their classrooms and teaching ELLs can be challenging yet satisfying. As the ELL population continues to grow, teachers will need to rely on others to help ELLs overcome their struggles with literacy development. Teaching literacy to ELLs is a process of discovery and teachers need to be open for potential changes in perceptions that will help them provide more effective literacy instruction. This study revealed that educators need to develop expertise throughout their careers.

Author(s):  
Luciana C. DE OLIVEIRA

This article presents a systemic-functional linguistic analysis of two writing samples of the University of California Analytical Writing Placement (AWP) Examination written by English language learners (ELLs). The analysis shows the linguistic features utilized in the two writing samples, one that received a passing score and one that received a failing score. The article describes some of the grammatical resources which are functional for expository writing, which are divided under three main categories: textual, interpersonal, and ideational resources. Following this brief description is the analysis of both essays in terms of these resources.. The configuration of grammatical features used in the essays make up the detached style of essay 1 and the more personal style of essay 2. These grammatical features include the textual resources of thematic choices and development, clause-combining strategies (connectors), and lexical cohesion; interpersonal resources of interpersonal metaphors of modality; and ideational resources of nominalization and abstractions as ideational metaphors. Implications for educational practice and recommendations for educators based on the analysis are provided.


2009 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hetty Roessingh ◽  
Susan Elgie

This article reports on the preliminary findings of a two-staged empirical study aimed at gaining insights into the variables salient in the early language and literacy development of young English language learners (ELL). Increasingly, young ELL, whether foreign-born or Canadian-born, arrive at school with little developed English-language proficiency. They must acquire oral language and literacy synchronously. Stage one of this study consists of time series data for reading and vocabulary scores using the Gates MacGinitie reading tests. Stage two consists of an early literacy screen and vocabulary profiles generated from an oral storytelling task for 65 kindergarten-aged ELL and a comparison group of 25 native speakers of English (NS). The findings suggest that although reading and vocabulary are closely interrelated in the stages of early literacy development, over time ELL youngsters face the greatest learning challenges in the area of vocabulary development. Implications for the design of early literacy programs are offered


Author(s):  
Congcong Wang

Wang (2012) suggested that preservice teachers perceived that their initial experiences as online language learners increased their linguistic, cultural and technological awareness, which would further benefit them when working with diverse students. However, that study was unclear about whether teachers perceived that they could transfer their awareness into teaching practice. Therefore, extending the pilot study, this follow-up study explored inservice teachers' perceptions of linguistic, cultural and technological awareness transfer in teaching English Language Learners by asking them to engage with an online language course and reflect on their experience. This study proposes a model for language teacher linguistic, cultural and technological awareness development and transfer, as well as discusses issues related to language teacher awareness transfer.


Author(s):  
Congcong Wang

Wang (2012) suggested that preservice teachers perceived that their initial experiences as online language learners increased their linguistic, cultural and technological awareness, which would further benefit them when working with diverse students. However, that study was unclear about whether teachers perceived that they could transfer their awareness into teaching practice. Therefore, extending the pilot study, this follow-up study explored inservice teachers' perceptions of linguistic, cultural and technological awareness transfer in teaching English Language Learners by asking them to engage with an online language course and reflect on their experience. This study proposes a model for language teacher linguistic, cultural and technological awareness development and transfer, as well as discusses issues related to language teacher awareness transfer.


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