Wong Fillmore & Snow

Josh Ball
Week 6

Teacher as Communicator

I agree with the above quote, but I also think it is important to consider the ways in which communication has changed in the twenty years since this chapter was written. The proliferation of social media and texting has fundamentally changed the way students communicate, which creates a challenge for all classroom teachers, particularly in terms of SLA.

Changes in Communication

Language Patterns

"Acquiring the academic discourse patterns of school is an important part of the educational development of all students, but it is neither necessary nor desirable to promote it at the expense of the language patterns children already have" (Wong Fillmore & Snow, pp. 50-51).

Teacher as Educator

"In order to teach effectively, teachers need to know which language problems will resolve themselves with time and which needs attention and intervention. In other words, they need to know a great deal about language development" (Wong Fillmore & Snow, p. 51).

Technological Advances

Language Development

Although changes in communication have presented challenges, the technological advances of the last twenty years - particularly with AI and near instantaneous translation - have become the most useful tools for providing English learners with materials at their skill levels in both their L1 and L2.

Open Ended

Have you ever used AI as a tool to help your EL students? If so, what platform did you use and how did you use it?

Teacher as Evaluator

The footnote for the above quote contends that the focus on differentiation may actually be part of the problem of evaluating a student's abilities. I have never considered this, likely because differentiation has become a central focus of teaching, and although I am not sure I entirely agree, it does make me wonder if there is a better system for evaluating the abilities of EL students.

An Imperfect System

Evaluation of Abilities

"American school culture is greatly concerned with individual differences in learning ability, and judgments about ability are often based on teacher evaluations of children's language. American educators take seriously the idea that people differ in abilities and aptitudes, and they believe that such differences require different treatment in schools" (Wong Fillmore & Snow, p. 52).

Teacher as Educated Human Being

Despite the article's emphasis on academic English as a cognitively demanding necessity for language learning, I have noticed a sharp decline in grammar instruction in the twenty years since its publication. Grammar is usually embedded into the teaching of other skills, but explicit grammar instruction is rare. I worry that this gradual omission has played a significant role in declining English proficiency.

Decline of Grammar

"The willingness of school districts and parent groups to embrace inappropriate methods for teaching reading in response to low performance on reading tests, to abandon theoretically sound methods for teaching English in the face of disappointing language achievement scores, and to adopt unproven approaches to foreign language teaching reminds us that too few people know enough of the basics about language and literacy to engage in reasonable discussion and to make informed decisions about such matters" (Wong Fillmore & Snow, p. 55).

We Don't Need No Education

Teacher as Agent of Socialization

One of the challenges in teaching English learners is finding a way to connect the classroom learning to a culture that may be unfamiliar. However, it can also be the most beneficial way for them, and I have found that my EL students greatly appreciate any effort put into connecting what they are learning to their L1 and culture.

Cultural Focus

"If teachers respect their students' home languages and cultures and understand the crucial role they play in the lives of the children and their families, they can help children make the necessary transitions in ways that do not undercut the role that parents and families must continue to play in their education and development" (Wong Fillmore & Snow, p. 57).

Cultural Transitions

Word Cloud

Think about your overall assessment of Wong Fillmore & Snows five functions of prospective teachers. Type a few words or phrases that come to mind.