Teaching A Second Language
We have all had questions on Teaching A Second Language before. Below are the top questions posed by visitors just like you to our. We hope our answers located below will help you solve your teaching problems today. Feel free to ask another question, or even comment on what has been written.
There has been a lot of debate recently regarding Teaching A Second Language, and it is therefore critical for you, the reader, to grab all of the information that is out there on the vast topic of teaching. Your teaching can have a huge impact on your future, so don’t procrastinate any longer. Read up on Teaching A Second Language today!
Mario Said:
How does a person go about getting and English Second Language teaching certificate?We Answered:
Great question! I wish that I was brave enough to ask this question once upon a time. I had to research for months to derive at the answer that I am about to present.First, if you want to teach ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages or ESL), you have to have certification. As mentioned, the most highly acclaimed version of this is at a local university. For instance, in South Carolina, the only university that carries ESOL certification (K-12) is University of South Carolina. No matter where you are in the world, they will be familiar with a state university that has a strong Linguistics Department. (In some states, they coordinate the ESOL program with either English or Multi-Cultural Studies.)
Next, if you want to teach in the U.S. public schools, you have to have your teaching certificate as well. In my case, I am in an M.A.T. program or a fast-track graduate level program + PRAXIS tests to receive my initial certification. If you don't have your undergraduate degree, you can obtain initial certification with the Education major + PRAXIS tests. For time constraints, I decided to go with Elementary Education. The initial certification combined with the ESOL certification gets me in the door to both ESOL and other teaching positions.
Wherever you decide, there will be a need. There are many students waiting to learn English as a Second Language. If you are thinking about teaching ESOL in the U.S. or a Spanish-speaking country, it is highly advantageous to learn a little Spanish - key vocab words, cultural issues, and grammatical structure. The more you know, the faster that the students will learn. Just make sure that you use English as the primary method of communication and instruction. You can't learn a language that you do not use. Remember, there is a need to learn English, more so than many other languages.
Good luck in your pursuits and endeavors! Hopefully, I was able to provide some insight into your long and difficult search. Personally, I had to have two forms of certification to become highly marketable throughout the world.
Donna Said:
Why is communication-based instruction the best way in teaching a second language ?We Answered:
Because people tend to remember words and sentences when they are in use.Mabel Said:
Any ideas on teaching second-language learners?We Answered:
Even new students can learn if you teach them the right way. Model EVERYTHING you want him to do. Enunciate well when you speak to him. Keep your sentences short and simple. Eg, instead of "make sure all of you have written your names in the upper corner of the papers" say "write your name at the top of your paper" while holding up the paper and pointing to the spot you want the name to be.ASAP, teach the student words like "circle", "underline" etc. Show him the written word, say it, and model doing it. This will help him be able to do some assignments.
You can teach him several topics in math without using words at all. Simply model solving the problem (I'm talking computation problems, not word problems) step by step. If possible, model the whole thing with manipulatives. I taught a 5th grader from Asia to do long division 2 weeks after she came here by working with her this way.
Most ESL students are hesitant to speak when they first arrive. Don't push him to. Within a few months, he'll probably start speaking on his own.
If you have bilingual students, it would be great if they can explain to him what you are doing at certain times. Even hearing things like "we are going to go to an assembly now" can make him feel a lot more comfortable and not so confused.
Willard Said:
How are various European countries teaching immigrant children who speak a second language at home?We Answered:
Here in Ireland we have a new wave of migrants coming here. Mostly from Latvia, Poland, and Lithuania. We had to provide more teachers of English for these people in our schools. But there hasn't been any major problems.Lance Said:
Teaching English as a second language to adults in Japan, Is this a good career move?We Answered:
The article "Standards for Good Teaching" states that a good teacher should:- be joyful
- love the natural curiosity of students
- be excited about learning
- be passionate about the subject they teach
- be inquisitive
- be creative
- seek help from others
- not be afraid of change and realize that change can be a positive element in every classroom
- be flexible or have the ability to roll with the punches and not let the little things get them down.
See full details here: http://www.teachervision.fen.com/teachin…
You could also see a career counselor. They often have a list of characteristics, pros and cons for a multitude of careers. Not to mention the tests you can take to find out what type of employment matches your personality.
For information specific to teaching in Japan check out the article "Teaching English in Japan" at http://weblog.teachingopportunitiesabroa…
Good luck! :)
Miguel Said:
What is the best time to start teaching a second language?We Answered:
Although English is my first language I have spoken Welsh since the age of 3 and am still totally fluent, it was easy for me as I was put through Welsh education but the earlier you start the easier it will be. Start now, she has probably only been talking properly for less than a year so you should start introducing the other languages to her now but I would firstly decide which one you would prefer her to speak most fluently and concentrate on that for now, speaking all 3 other languages interchangeably may be just too confusing for a 2 yr old. Just start chatting in the language you'd like her to learn first, with your husband, with her, use it as much as possible and repeat what you say to her in English but keep it constant so it would be e.g Bosnian/English, Bosnian/ English, eventually she will understand what you are saying without having to repeat in English. You could start to introduce the other languages using the same process but let her grasp one first, she's plenty of time to learn being so young. Good luck and good on you!