Anne M. Younce, RCOE, Appalachian State University
During my block experience at Appalachian State University, I participated in an Inquiry Project. The project was done in my Curriculum and Instruction 4000 Class. It focused on ESL (English as a Second Language) students, and how to effectively teach and involve them in my classroom. The product of the project was a brochure of resources that can be useful to new teachers or teachers unfamiliar to ESL and multiculturalism. We learned many exciting and helpful things that can be used in a variety of ways, such as faculty meetings, staff development, and PTA meetings or with parents.
This project helped me with my professional development, because ESL and multiculturalism were topics I knew very little about. Also, it allowed me to understand and relate to other educators’ thoughts and feelings on this subject. It was very beneficial to me now, and one day to my students.
The project assisted me in developing methods to facilitate learning
for students who did not speak English as their primary language, for instance
there are websites on the brochure that allow ESL students to access them
and take quizzes to check their learning (13.3).
Through interviewing both in-person and via email, and researching books
and the Internet, we developed thoughts about this topic (13.4).
This will help us later on in our professional careers. Also, through
the use of many materials, we can now begin to understand how many resources
we have to help with ESL students. We found numerous books, web sites and
personal resources that will be helpful in our teaching careers.