A/A Technology

Reflection on Assistive/Adaptive Technology video
By
Koneta Akenus

Ideas that I would like to add to the activities for inclusion of AAT:
1. Need to provide disabled students directions to do the activities using technology with visual and sounds.
2. All disabled students need to have laptop/computer so they can have access to do their work whenever they are available.
3. Give lots of practices or sites include different kinds of activities (online, word document, etc.). Tutoring is an important thing to do to the disabled kids so they can prepare for the next lesson. I agree that students must provides or access with technology starts from kinder or early age. The more you expose to, the more you familiar and feel comfortable with it.

In the video clip, one of the disable students cannot focus or concentrate on the lesson without technology. Based on the video clip, I do agree that lesson plan need to revise to include disable students. If they were in the regular classroom, teacher also needs to pay attention to the need of the disabled kid. I feel it is hard for teacher to do two different lesson plans at the time. My opinion is rather depending on the situation. As far as I see in some classroom with disabled kids, most of the students focus on the disabled kids (physically disabled) than their lesson. They pay much attention to the disabled child than their teacher.

Based on the video clip, teacher can assess the students learning by viewing what they were doing on using technology. I think using technology in the classroom helps both disabled and regular kids to learn at the same time. It is also easy for teacher to assess students learning using technology.

Research Summary Articles

Using Origami and Magic Tricks to Teach English

Vichea In
http://iteslj.org/Techniques/In-Origami.html

This article presents the pedagogical value of origami and magic tricks to English teachers. Origami is an art of cutting and folding papers into different decorative or representative forms. Origami activities, often viewed as childlike and non-content activities, but actually promote language learning among not only young but also adult learners.


Utilizing Film to Enhance Student Discussion of Sociocultural Issues

Richard J. Simpson
URL: http://iteslj.org/Techniques/Sampson-Film.html

This article emphasizes the importance of a new technique in which film is utilized to enhance and to expand students’ practice critical thinking skills in conducting tasks that will enable them to become more capable members of discussions in English about sociocultural issues not only cultures and societies different to their own, but also that which surrounds them.


Using Music to Improve Listening Comprehension Skills

Larry M. Lynch
http://www.language-learning-advisor.com/using-music-to-improve-listening-comprehension-skills.html

The author has shared or discussed the importance of music in addition to what is taught in the classroom. First he uses music to take some of the boredom out of learning in the classroom for the students and himself. “Using Popular Songs Improves Language Comprehension Skills, idioms, the use of new vocabulary words, pronunciation, grammar, and many more.


Improve Your Mind Power With Spanish

Steve Gillman
http://www.increasebrainpower.com/mind-power.html

This article sums up very nicely a few of the reasons to learn a language. The author uses Spanish as an example, but his points apply to any other language as well. Learning new language helps in expanding our language expression, vocabulary, understand things better, and improvement in memory.


Stages of Second Language Acquisition

Judie Haynes
http://www.everythingesl.net/inservices/language_stages.php
The author has shared five stages of Second language acquisition. All new learners of English progress through the same stages to acquire language. However, the length of time each student spends at a particular stage may vary greatly.


Second Language Acquisition

Steven Krashen
http://www.yourdictionary.com/esl/Second-Language-Acquisition-Theory.html

The University of Southern California’s Steven Krashen developed the predominant theory of second language acquisition. According to Krashen there are five components of second language acquisition theory. Each component relates to a different aspect of the language learning process.


Teaching Guides: Volunteering in ESL

Colorado State University
http://writing.colostate.edu/guides/teaching/esl/learners.cfm

This article provides idea on how you deal with ESL learners. There are some questions and outside influence, you need to consider. The more you know about your learners, the better equipped you will be to meet their needs.


Literature in an ESL/EFL classroom

Professor Colin MacCabe
http://www.eslelite.com/biz/articles_for_teachers/articles_literature_in_an_esl_classroom.htm’

Professor Colin MacCabe of the University of Exter School of English says that to truly know a language, you must know something of the literature of a language. Literature is intellectually stimulating because a book allows a reader to imagine worlds they are not familiar with thru descriptive language. Using literature verses a communicative book changes the learning approach from learning how to say into learning how to mean.



How to Teach Adult English Language Learners (ELL or ESL)

E.M Robinson
http://www.ehow.com/how_4782601_english-language-learners-ell-esl.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_art
According to the author teaching reading to adults as part of an ELL or ESL program can be a complex task; however, there are basics that enabled a teacher to help the adults make great gains. Therefore, word identification and comprehension are equally important.


A Child's First Steps in Language Learning

J Doug McGlothin
jdmcglothlin [at] gol.com
This article talks about how children learn language. It used a theory that explains why children learn new languages very easily, almost too easily than adult. This article starts from baby birth, the child’s language environment, and learning strategies.


Children's Writing in ESL

Hudelson, Sarah
http://www.ericdigests.org/pre-9210/writing.htm

Sarah Huddleston talks about some studies on how to help ESL students become proficient writer of English and to ensure their academic development in English language classroom. Children develop as writers when they use writing to carry out activities that are meaningful to them. Teachers need to provide multiple opportunities for writers to engage in writing for reasons that are real and important to the individual writer.




Teaching English for Specific Purposes (ESP)

Lorenzo Fiorito
http://www.usingenglish.com/teachers/articles/teaching-english-for-specific-purposes-esp.html
How is English for Specific Purposes (ESP) different from English as a Second Language (ESL), also known as general English? This article talks about the differentiation between ESP and ESL. It gives more detail on ESP learner than ESL. The author gives ESP teacher some ideas on how to set up their classroom or their role as an ESP teacher.



Effective Strategies for Teaching English Language Learners. Learning English and Learning America

Karel Pellino
http://www.teach-nology.com/tutorials/teaching/esl/2/
This article discusses the challenges faced by language minority children at school as they experience what is referred to as "language shock," a struggle to learn the English language and be accepted in a society that is not always accepting and not always willing to embrace diversity. These students are in a strange land trying to maintain a sense of identity related to their native culture and become American language; so they end up silent and withdraw from participation.


Effective Strategies for Teaching English Language Learners
Barriers to Meaningful Instruction for English Learners

Karen Pellino
URL: http://www.teach-nology.com/tutorials/teaching/esl/3/
This article focuses on effective ways teachers can help ESL students overcome barriers to meaningful instruction. Teachers can use strategies based on social integrationist theory, to create classroom conditions that foster learning by modeling, scaffolding and helping students to construct understanding, with the critical goal of becoming independent thinkers and problem solvers.


Turning Frustration into Success for English Language Learners

Brice & Roseberry-McKibbin
http://www.teach-nology.com/tutorials/teaching/esl/4/
The author offers a number of strategies to help classroom teachers enhance the success of ESL students with language learning disabilities. It is noted that student progress is greater when a speech language pathologist and classroom teacher collaborate to coordinate regular classroom learning with small group learning. Progress is also greater when strategies are consistently employed in the classroom on a daily basis as opposed to once or twice a week in a pull-out program. The author offers a number of strategies to help classroom teachers enhance the success of ESL students with language learning disabilities.


Using Standards to Integrate Academic Language into ESL Fluency

Beckett & Haley
http://www.teach-nology.com/tutorials/teaching/esl/5/
This article speaks of curriculum alignment for ESL instruction. ESL standards such as to use English to communicate in social settings, to use English to achieve academically in all content areas, and to use English in socially and culturally appropriate ways can have a significant impact on ESL student achievement. By integrating academic language into ESL curriculum, the ESL standard can have a significant impact on ESL student achievement.



English videos and music in EFL, ESL Classroom

Futonge Kisito
www.esl-galaxy.com,
The author has emphasizes the importance of having music as part of her lesson technique to teach English in the classroom. Music has helped to start discussions on a topic or even become the centre of debate, develop a particular theme, great for teaching listening. One of my favorite exercises with music is completing the blanks as students listen or listening and choosing the correct words from two words than rhyme, for example cry and try. You can teach grammar with songs in many ways. Videos provide both visuals and hearing (phonology).


Ideas for Teaching Listening and phonics to ESL Children

Article and content writing services
http://www.successfulesl.com/Blog/
This article offers ideas that can make phonics fun. Teaching phonics to ESL children can be a challenge. This article is useful for teacher so they can get idea on how to make phonics fun. The most important factor in any lesson is getting student interested in their learning.


Using Colored Pens

Kenneth Beare
http://esl.about.com/od/grammarlessons/a/coloredpens.htm

The author has shared with us that using colored pens in class is a great way to help students learn their tenses. By using color-coding for the various tenses students, learn to associate that color with the tense (right brain learning). This in turn adds another learning tool that students can use on their own, remembering which color goes with which tense adds a visual component to their learning style.


Using Music to Enhance Second Language Acquisition: From Theory to Practice

Suzanne L. Medina, Ph.d
http://www.forefrontpublishers.com/eslmusic/articles/06.htm
Dr. Medina has shared some of the advantages of using music in the classroom. According to Medina. Music is used by teachers to help second language learners developed their vocabulary, grammar, and spelling. It also developed the linguistic skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. For most students, singing songs and listening to music are enjoyable experiences.