The titel of the text is: Talking in class: spaken language and effective learning..
By hearing this titel I had several different kinds of ideas for the subject that it could be containing. First off all I was thinking about my rapports of secundairy school. There was always on "You talk to much in class, be focused." So I realy wanted to know what this text has to say about it.
For example: Shut up, stop talking,... that are words we are so much more than just words. Saying to somebody that he needs to keep his mouth closed is like killing somebody... The same as saying your language is bad, you wont help him with it to say it, because offcourse the student will not be active anymore in your class.
A part of your academic language (see previous blog) will you get from school, but there are also children who get it from home and that are the children whit the best marks, children of teachers, they develope it more.
In the text they speak about a Skateboard- language. This is the example they give for explaining to the boy that its really important his language. He said it himeself "You can learn it by joining in" And at that point I think the porpuse of the text is accomplished, they boys understands it and now can work on it.
You can do this by:
reading: passive knowledge
talking: do you want to do it fluently? than practice it!
and off course ownership: the active knowledge that is speaking.
This can be developing by making space for it in class, to shape and reshape ideas, discussions.
Wittgenstein say in the text: "The borders of my language are the borders of my world".This sentence gave it a new perspective for me.. And indeed it is so, if you don't know a word that you need for a crossword than you keep thinking until you have it..
To show you that it realy is like wittgenstein says: the eskimo's have 7 words for melting snow. That is because they see it all the time.. If we wouldn't have a "regering" in a couple of months we also would have more then one word for it.
So talking is very important, we can help our pupils develope there language. other ways we are limiting them to develope there world a whe would put the borders at there world.
vrijdag 17 juni 2011
What with our language?
The subject of this blog is about language.
Why do we use different language at school then at home? For our students is it very confusing, because they need to learn a "new" language, and we give them points on that language.
So they need to learn the languages from us, the teachers because they copy it .. That is why we must pay attention at our vocabulary en the sentences we make.
Actualy we teach in academic language, do they understand? adults take it for granted, but for young students it's more difficult.
So we need to teach it, we can do this by offcourse talking in class, by hearing, try it, reading it they will get to know it. Off course we need to be aware of the differences in the academic language.
In math can "compare" mean: make from this exercise the math rules but in biology it means something totaly different. So the teachers need to decide together with word will mean what.
Offcourse that can't be enough, here are some tips to use:
1 be explicit
2 use "sheltered" instruction techniques
3 use appropiate grade level text
= content area instructions.
That is a first stap to become a higher achievement for all your students.
I think that we as teachers aren't aware enough of this "different" language that we speak. But if we didn't do this education we wouldn't have had this academic language. We have learned this because we are training to come teachers... So I think it's really important to understand that your students sometimes have difficulties with understanding you.. That is not your fault but just a sign that they don't understand your academic language. To help them you need to make room in your timetable, use text at there level, it must be a challange for them and offcourse tell them clearly that some words have a different use in a context.
So it isn't always our fault but also the fault of the language.
Next time if we have practical I will be aware off my language because we need to improve the language of our pupils.
Why do we use different language at school then at home? For our students is it very confusing, because they need to learn a "new" language, and we give them points on that language.
So they need to learn the languages from us, the teachers because they copy it .. That is why we must pay attention at our vocabulary en the sentences we make.
Actualy we teach in academic language, do they understand? adults take it for granted, but for young students it's more difficult.
So we need to teach it, we can do this by offcourse talking in class, by hearing, try it, reading it they will get to know it. Off course we need to be aware of the differences in the academic language.
In math can "compare" mean: make from this exercise the math rules but in biology it means something totaly different. So the teachers need to decide together with word will mean what.
Offcourse that can't be enough, here are some tips to use:
1 be explicit
2 use "sheltered" instruction techniques
3 use appropiate grade level text
= content area instructions.
That is a first stap to become a higher achievement for all your students.
I think that we as teachers aren't aware enough of this "different" language that we speak. But if we didn't do this education we wouldn't have had this academic language. We have learned this because we are training to come teachers... So I think it's really important to understand that your students sometimes have difficulties with understanding you.. That is not your fault but just a sign that they don't understand your academic language. To help them you need to make room in your timetable, use text at there level, it must be a challange for them and offcourse tell them clearly that some words have a different use in a context.
So it isn't always our fault but also the fault of the language.
Next time if we have practical I will be aware off my language because we need to improve the language of our pupils.
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