Critical Reflection
This website was created for educators looking for information, support, and resources on English as a Second Language (ESL) learners who recently immigrated to Canada, or for those whose primary language is not English. Given the continuing growth of culturally diverse populations and newcomers to Canada, school boards have gradually seen an increase of English as a Second Language learners who require educational support, and as a result, teachers need a resource to gain knowledge and to help implement and design effective programs for these individuals.
With an interest in ESL, I have created this website to both further my interest and support the interests of others. This website provides information and resources from my own personal experiences, as well as includes resources from a variety of organizations and professionals with similar interests to myself. Here, I have consolidated some of the pertinent information in an easily assessable, organized and creative way. This information is valuable for those teaching children, adolescents or adults and can be applied to a variety of situations.
The information provided on this site can be studied and shared with others. This site speaks to what ESL is, about learning a new language, the stages of second language acquisition, the acculturation process, how to support ESL learners in the classroom and how to set up a program for these individuals that is inclusive and supportive, and also provides various strategies that can be used inside and outside of the classroom. I have also included interviews from two ESL teachers that reinforce the information provided on this site. These are experienced teachers who have applied various strategies mentioned on this site effectively in the classroom. Also found on this website are Internet links, YouTube videos and scholarly articles that share important information about ESL learners and programs. The provided resources are materials that can be printed and brought directly to the classroom.
ESL is not a mandated component of most initial teacher education programs in Ontario, and as a result, teachers do not always have training or experience working with ESL learners. This can create a challenge for both students and teachers. Although in many boards, classroom teachers receive support from board-level consultants or ESL/ELD specialists, this resource was created so that teachers have another option available to them to learn at their convenience. It is my hope that more teachers will be able to understand their learners and create valuable programs for them to learn and experience what all children should in our education system.
Although there are many resources available to educators online and in print form about ESL learners, some are more informative and accurate than others. When researching about ESL, it is important to view a variety of sources to find which ones are relevant and apply to the students you are teaching. While looking at what sources are credible, it is also important to realize that not all students are the same and all learn in a unique way. It is important to know the student or students you are working with and what their interests are, and support students during their whole learning process.
Having an ESL learner in the classroom affects all students, and all students should be educated on how to help and include these learners, specifically adolescents. It is also important to think about the families of these students. Educators need to learn how to communicate with the home and the siblings to create an effective atmosphere. It is these above factors that serve as a basis for emotional development and language acquisition. It is important to ensure that all students are comfortable and learning in an inclusive and supportive school environment.