Blog Entry 4: Reflection

            I have learned a lot of things in this class. However, there are three takeaways I took this semester. One, is that students need to feel accepted and safe in their environment. This goes for all students, but most importantly for ELLs. I was once an ELL student, that came all the way from the Philippines. I can only imagine back then, if I ended up in a classroom where the teacher did not set up a positive classroom environment for his/her students. Then I definitely would have not been able to enjoy my early school years, let alone transition well from the Philippines to the United States. Fortunately, that was not the case and I was able to be paired with teachers that not only cared about my academic successes but was also a true advocated for their students.

            With that, I also want to point out that my teachers never forced me to assimilate myself to the American culture or make me feel bad for not speaking English properly. They took the time to teach me at school, while my parents taught so at home. Although, I’m not fully bilingual I’m very thankful for the teachers I had when I was in ESL. They made me feel accepted, even though I came from a different country.

            The second important note I took out was learning how to differentiate instruction for ELLs. I know in the world of education, it is very important to differentiate instruction in your lesson plan. It is very crucial to do so in an ESL class. Therefore, in order to do so teachers must make an effort to get to know their students one-by-one. Teachers need to realize that learning is not one-size-fits-all. Everyone has different perspectives, cultures, and backgrounds, that makes each students’ learning unique from their peers.

            With that, my last important note is the advocacy for students but specifically ELLs. ELL students need all the support they can get from their schools. I loved how Wright notes that it is not only the teacher’s responsibility for the success of ELLs but also from the administrative staff, school staff, parents, and communities that should also carry that responsibility and be a pro-advocate for them. Everyone needs to work together as a team both the people in the school and outside from it.

            Hence, with everything I have learned this semester this will impact my professional practice for the better. I have gained such an insightful experience, and I now know ways to help my future ELL students. I feel more prepared to be able to take on an ESL classroom and know how to tackle difficult situations. Also, I am more aware of all the laws and politics regarding ESL education, which I believe is important to know so that one may understand any new changes that could affect ELL students and their families. Overall, this course has helped me expand my knowledge and gave me courage to work with ELL students.

            As for the topics that were brought about in class. I think there should be an equal share for each of them. I do not think one should be more of an importance than the other, because each and every one of those topics help ELLs in the long run. If anything, they are like building blocks or tiers to their success.

            In conclusion, this course has added a great impact to my teaching philosophy. It broadened my perspective in the world of education and helped me become more reflective of my practices as a teacher. Like I said before, this was such an insightful experience and I am very thankful for the opportunity to be a part of this course and class. I have learned so much from everyone and also from the people in my video blog. This is definitely something I will carry throughout my teaching career.