Tuesday 24 January 2012

History and our Place in the Story

For class this week I read about the history of Language learning theory.

The reading brought us from the Monks memorizing Latin in 1500, to authentic communicative language learning for anyone today. It was a brief brush through the past and it gave a good overview of how we have come to the place we are today. Each generation came through history with a desire to learn language, for different purposes and to do their best. When major events happened in history, language learners and teachers used those events to their advantage and they influenced the way language was learned or why it was learned. I found it interesting that after WW1 people were motivated to learn foreign languages so they could promote better communication between countries. Through this I can see clearly how learning language makes the world a better place. This is one of the reasons I enjoy teaching EAL so much, because I know it will improve life for newcomers to Canada. As the years went by many methods, approaches and techniques were used, new ways to teach were developed and old ideas were scrapped only later to have them brought back with yet newer integrations. I picture it as a spiral. The science behind learning a language and research also became more and more important for language learning. All the great language thinkers, inventors, scientists, researchers and forerunners in the field of language learning brought us to today, where we have the communicative approach. With the communicative approach culture, context and authentic language learning are critical. I like culture, context and authentic. I feel that my preferred learning style fits well with the communicative approach. The art of teaching language is always going to be developing, so this is not the end but rather our place in the story. We get the benefit of the work put into the field before us and now get to help shape the future.

Tuesday 17 January 2012

My preferred learning Style


The best way for me to learn is by using the new information I am learning right away. I don't have a good memory, so I have learned that if I can use the information as I get it, I retain more. This is also why I prefer informal learning, because on my own I can read one step, then try and then read step 2 and try it. I am not one to give up easily if I run into trouble. If I have a goal in mind I'll try and try again. Sometimes I run into problems because I rush the process, I try before I have full understanding and I go directly to the trial and error stage. The principles of Adult learning that most affect me are my need to be self-directed and to have a goal that I set. This is reflected in my preferred learning style, when I set the direction myself I will learn information that will be relevant and practical in my life immediately or nearly immediate. I am highly motivated by the goal and I will try and try again until I get to that goal, if I know it will matter to my life.

Saturday 14 January 2012

Who writes this blog?


Hi, my name is Cindy and I am on a learning journey. I've been teaching part time ESL classes for 5 years in rural Manitoba. I love teaching EAL and I'm now taking classes at the University of Winnipeg to help me become better at what I love to do. Writing the word love and English in the same sentence still catches me off guard sometimes. As a young girl going to school I never imagined myself being a teacher and especially not an English teacher. I did very poorly in the subject of English as a child and I always needed extra help. I still recall Miss White’s strong perfume and bright pink lipstick, I spent a lot of one-on-one time with the lovely lady as she tried to help me improve my reading level. When I went to college for the first time they told me "Your English isn't at college level", I had to enroll in a "special" English class to get my English marks up to par. Sometimes people learn slowly, that was me, but I have learned. Now I am going to University (yes me!) to learn to teach others the ways and woes of this language we call English. Here in this space you are welcome to read along and comment as I journal my learning journey.