Learning is Social

Man is a social animal. We like to speak with others, eat with others, play and watch sports with others, be in romantic and friendly relationships with other, and we like to learn with others.

Not only do we learn with others all the way from pre-school through graduate school, in the sense of sharing a classroom, we also learn from our peers.

It is not only the teacher who gives us information, models new skills and explains difficult concepts: Our classmates are our teachers as well.

Is you ever watch children in a classroom, they are always helping each other with tasks and skills. The same is true in the adult education classroom. One prominent example of this takes place in the ESL classroom. More advanced students help less advanced ones. Students become friends and share conversation, humor and the challenges of learning a new language, in a new country, after a day of work, dealing with mates, children, bosses, bills and a host of issues specific to immigrants who are second language learners.

Te social aspect of learning makes learning possible by creating a safe, comfortable space in which students can relax and feel good about themselves while acquiring English-language skills.

Spring is Here!

We are now in the midst of Spring Semester. We are studying Food this week and learning all about Thanksgiving. We are using Downtown 2 textbook and workbook, and the Heinle Picture Dictionary.

We had a special treat last week when we used technology in the classroom. Students called each other on their cell phones and spoke to each other across the room! Everyone had to use their listening and speaking abilities and the students had a good time while improving their communication skills.

End of Semester

We are coming to the end of the Fall 2010 semester. I would like to thank all my ESL 2 and CBET/ESL/Computer students for a fun and productive semester.

Spring 2011 will begin on Monday, February 14, 2011.

ESL Going Strong

Despite budget cuts, ESL is going strong. We are seeing students committed to learning English, getting jobs, getting a piece of the American Dream. Many obstacles to overcome. But students live in the moment, working, having fun with their families, raising their children. Helping each other. And they will continue to grow, because their intentions have planted within them the knowledge that where they are going is better than from whence they have come. And we are going to help them.

Welcome Back Students!

Welcome back students! The Fall Semester has begun! Everyone is excited and enthusiastic. Keep up your excitement! That will keep you motivated to learn and progress. I look forward to our journey together.

Accreditation -- Round Two

I must admit I was surprised at the efficacy of the last "cred" meeting. Even though we were asked to answer many questions which were completely out of the teacher's scope of information, i.e., administrative policies, etc., it was actually a positive experience going through the questions and discussing them. This week we will attempt to bring some answers to the table -- to find information, to define, hone, explicate...in other words, answer the questions in a meaningful way that will satisfy the requirements of the accreditation team. This is no exercise in futility -- this is a real endeavor that requires th thought, research, analysis and understanding in order to fulfill our mission of proving that we are accreditation-worthy. It is a school-wide effort and we are all key to its success. Stay tuned.

Accreditation -- Again

We've had the orientation meeting -- tonight begins the work in earnest (how's that for an anachronistic expression). Richard Rose, the nicest person you'd ever want to meet, was tapped for the job of coordinating the evening ESL teachers. We will spend over an hour ( half an hour of our own time) going over esoteric, non-relevant questions which will eventually become part of a document defending ourselves, turned in to the Accreditation Team. If you want to know if we are doing our job -- look at the results. We are a vocational school. Are our students learning skills? Getting jobs? Learning English? We should do fine. We are an excellent school in a district fraught with problems, the least of which is insufficient funding. But we will do it -- one question at a time.