week 6

Our text "Literacy and Bilingualism", addresses several different approaches that will aid bilingual students with oral discourse. 

Dictogloss, Vocabulary Connections, Language Experience Approach, Show Not Tell

Which approaches would you choose to you use in your classroom with students? Explain why these methods would be purposeful.

     I like all of these approaches honestly, as a teacher I understand no mean is one for all. But if I still need to pick one as my first priority to try, I would try Dictogloss. To me, LEA  seems to need some life experiences for the base. Vocabulary Connection is good and I could picture the energetic scenario when the example played.  I even found out the useful sight words list for my future career. But it seems to take not a short time to complete the practice. As regard with Show Not Tell, it is familiar to me and recalled me the experience of English learning so I am so eager to execute.

      I choose Dictogloss for several reasons. First, it demands students to pay attention the teacher's reciting in normal speed, it can train their listening. In the following second and third time, students have to write down as many as vocabulary and sentences they hear. When they practice, they start to make the connections between sounds and words. And if they miss any part of the text, next time they will put more effort on listening. Second, this approach allows students to have the discussion in pairs and then add another pair into four. They can revise their notes and have the final copy with more correct grammar and spelling. Last, they can compare origin with their work and have self-correction. And this approach can be used in every subject area.  

      Basically, these methods are all well-design and student-centered. When teachers implement the scaffolding of English learning, most of them still leave some room for their native language. As my observation, all strategies infuse essential components: listening, reading, speaking and writing in demonstration, discussion or exhibition of assignment, and these features make the methods purposeful.