ESL: How Can Parents Help Their ESL Children Learn English" By: Lois T. Gumataotao

Lois T. Gumataotao

ESL Teacher/Coordinator  

How Can Parents Help Their ESL Children Learn English?  Parents must first understand and believe that learning the English language skills is important.  If children realize the adults in their lives don't think learning English is important, they will be less likely to approach the subject with a positive attitude.  Parents, you can help your children learn English by ensuring they're well-prepared for school such as:

·         Setting a time and place for homework

·         Having supplies available such as pens, paper, scissors, glue and dictionaries, etc.

·         Being willing to answer questions about homework

·         Asking your child about their school day and listening to concerns

·         Ensuring they eat a healthy breakfast

·         Encouraging them to get to bed early and get a good night's rest

A great way for how parents help their ESL children learn English is by trying to learn English themselves!  The more frequent parents are able to use English at home, the more opportunities will arise for children to practice speaking and listening.   A great motivator for parents and children to learn new skills is when they practice together.

Parents of ESL students can be the key to a child's success by making a dedicated effort to promote English language learning, no matter what their background or personal English abilities are.  Remember, parents do make a difference!

"What is the ESL Program?"

Lois T. Gumataotao
ESL Coordinator/Teacher

Hafa Adai!  My name is Lois T. Gumataotao and I am the ESL Teacher and Coordinator.  What is ESL?  ESL stands for English as a Second Language.  I focus on the development of English communication skills with the English Learners (ELs).  The four skills necessary for effective communication in English are listening, speaking, reading, and writing.  As the ELs (English Learners) progress, they should become more comfortable with the English language.  This is demonstrated through reading comprehension, spoken fluency and effective writing. 

A student is eligible for ESL services based on the HLS (Home Language      Survey) a parent completes as part of the registration process.  If the student comes from a home environment where language other than English is spoken and scores at a non-proficient level (a LAS Oral score of 3 or below) on the LAS (Language Assessment Scale), he/she is eligible.  Parents will be contacted if their child will be participating in this program. 

Every effort will be made to meet the needs of the ELs as I help them acquire fluency in the English language.  If you need more information on the ESL Program, please free to call me at 649-8256.  

ESL Feature: Dynamic SIOP Training!

Pictured above: GDOE educators, Guam Education Board Member Dr. Jose Cruz, and UOG Administrator Larry Gamboa of Professional International Programs, pose with SIOP Trainer Martha Trejo.

Pictured above: SIOP Trainer Martha Trejo (center) pose with LBJ Elementary School ESL Teachers/Coordinators, Lois Taitano Gumataotao (left) and Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera (right).

Dynamic SIOP Training!

An engaging SIOP Training for Teachers was held June 2-4, 2011 at the Holiday Resort in Tumon. Our trainer was Martha Trejo from Texas. She is a dynamic Pearson trainer! I can just hear her say, "If you can hear me, raise your hand."

Among the topics we explored included the following: second language acquisition theories, the Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) Model of Sheltered Instruction, lesson preparation, building background, comprehensible input, strategies, interaction, practice & application, lesson delivery, review & assessment, lesson planning, and implementation of the SIOP Model.

Further highlights included the following:
*Students do most of the work & the teacher does less.
*90% retention w/student interaction. Model it, and then let the students do it.
*Use it with your best subject.
*Focus is not on you. Focus is on the students.

Some of the motions we learned included the following:
*First you begin with lesson preparation (put fingers on head).
*Then you build background knowledge (place fingers in back of head).
*Stir in the strategies (stir with hands)
*Add interaction (clap with hands side by side)
*Practice and application (move arms up and down like you're exercising)
*Comprehensible input (Place finger to lips)
*Lesson delivery (Action of pizza delivery with arm moving in the air)
*Review and assessment (Move body back and then forward)

We were truly interactive in various activities, including the Inside-Outside Circle, Conga Line, Stay and Stray, Role Play, personifying objects, line activities, simultaneous round table, and more!

We were reminded that the goals are the standards, and the language focuses on "What language do my children need?"

The activity is not the goal. The activity supports the goal.

We discussed the importance of instructional scaffolding involving concrete, pictorial, and abstract stages.

It is essential that we build capacity and support each other. For further details, you may e-mail Martha at martha.trejo@pearson.com She trains from the heart, and she has empowered us with the strategies necessary for us to SIOPize!

ESL Feature: Resourceful Websites to Enhance Learning

*www.everythingesl.net (articles)
*www.enchantedlearning.com (activities; membership fee required)
*www.dltk-cards.com/bingo/ (bingo games)
*www.abcteach.com (flash cards; membership fee required)
*www.colorincolorado.org (great information)
*www.readinga-z.com (leveled books and reading ideas; membership fee required)
*www.learnenglish.org.uk (songs, poems, resources)
*www.mes-english.com (printables)
*www.brainpopesl.com (animated videos, free trial membership)

ESL Feature: March 2011 IRA Newsletter

Click here to view the Guam Council IRA March 2011 Newsletter.

ESL Valentine Message

Have a heart! Let us continue to move forward and make positive things happen in your child’s learning experience of the English language. Use Valentine's Day to give your child a meaningful opportunity to learn and use figurative language in English. Valentine's Day provides a great way to introduce a new idea of English language expressions to your child. This gives him/her an occasion to extend his/her communication skills in informal settings. It provides your child with experience in learning and using language "chunks" and negotiating meaning with native speakers. Such figurative language such as “from the bottom of my heart means to really mean something”; “to have a heart of gold means to care about other people”; or “to be soft hearted means to be sympathetic”, will help your child reinforce these skills and improve his/her oral language skills. Wishing you all a hearty month and loveable Valentine’s Day!

ESL Feature: February 2011 IRA Newsletter

Click on the image above to view the Guam Council IRA February 2011 Newsletter. If you are unable to view the newsletter, visit the IRA website at http://iraguam.blogspot.com. Enjoy!