I want to start this entry by saying that the Chicken Pox video was absolutely amazing. As a Spanish major, I have frequently heard that children attain a second language far more quickly than adults or teenagers. However, I never imagined that such a phenomenon could take place so rapidly. Kindergarteners, after only a handful of weeks’ exposure to French, were being spoken to, instructed, and speaking in French.
The teacher in the video united several different instructional strategies, as well, creating the perfect learning environment for his students. From an ESL perspective, the teacher was doing everything possible to ensure that the students were learning the language naturally. They heard the words first; they heard them many times. From hearing the words they inferred the meanings. Eventually, they spoke the words. Then—and only then—did they see the words and read them. This follows how toddlers learn their first language (listening à speaking à reading à writing).
In my future classroom, I will try my hardest to successfully employ as many effective language development instructional methods as the teacher in the Chicken Pox video.
Speaking of my future classroom, I had never really seen myself as an early childhood educator. The thought of being in control of a room full of thirty screaming six year olds never piqued my interest.
Now, upon seeing the innate skills children at such a young age possess, and the feeling of reward that a teacher must possess upon witnessing the children progress, I feel as though a new wind has blown.
(Chicken Pox video.)
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