Autonomy

Autonomy in a second language means you can go into a real situation where you need that language and you can communicate effectively with someone, without getting help with translation from your first language.

I have never actually been able to become autonomous in any of the second languages I have tried to learn. I guess I am too lazy or something like that. I lived in the Philippines for 1 year and I learned a lot but was not able to become autonomous, I either used a translator or the people I spoke with understood English. I wish I had been able to speak and listen autonomously because then I would have been able to shop in the market without help or participate in discussions as I sat with locals; I would have learned more about the people and been able to learn their stories without it first being filtered through a translator.

The other language I have tried (still trying) to learn is French. Autonomy in French would mean I could help my children in their French Immersion studies, volunteer in their classroom at school and communicate with my uncle Paul.

Autonomy doesn’t mean you are perfect in a language, it means you can communicate effectively even if you make mistakes or need to check for clarification.

Inspire and empower through discovery and creativity

 When it comes to teaching reading and writing in my ESL classroom I want to inspire and empower through discovery and creativity.

Inspire
 I want to inspire students to read and write.To start with, they may not know all the potential they have in knowing how to read and write and I want to give them good reason to want to do it. As the teacher I have the power to inspire them. It is good to show the students the potential of reading and writing. Changing the world, brightening someones day, expressing opinions, knowing what's happening int eh world and around them, learning something they are excited about; are some ideas to share with the students.
Empower
 I want to empower students to read and write anything on their own. I will not always be there for them so I need to give students strategies that will empower them to do it on their own. This means I can't just blurt out an answer I know they have the resources to find on their own; better to show them the resource and help them learn to discover it on their own.



........ the vehicle .......


Discovery 
The way to know something and be able to do it again will be for Students to discover it for themselves. It is an easy road for me to just hand out a list of words and definitions for them to learn but the easy road will not have the effect I hope for. I want my students to be inspired and empowered. Prediction, brainstorming, group work are all examples of discovery.
Creativity
Creativity stimulates thinking, it brings something different to the table and everyone has to take notice of it. Something new will stand out in their minds and they will learn quickly. Plus I don't want to be boring. Realia, pictures, drawing the story, acting it out could all be ideas to make it more creative.

It is very important to view the students as intelligent and interesting; they have a wellspring of knowledge, just not able to express it entirely in English yet, and it is my job as the teacher to help the students unveil that in themselves.
My experience -  I didn't like to read very much until I found the genre that was for me, then I couldn't stop reading. Everyone has a key interest that will pique their desire to learn and I hope to help my students discover it for themselves.