Our focus in the ESL Program is to address the needs of English Language Learners (ELs), whose first language is a language other than English. We strive to ensure that our student population, which includes a rich diversity in cultures from around the Pacific islands and abroad, attain proficiency in English and meet academic and content standards that all students are expected to meet. In the ESL class, the ELs become active learners of meaning and in making connections and transitions among ideas and elements.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

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!

Saturday, March 26, 2011

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)

Sunday, February 13, 2011

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!

Friday, December 31, 2010

ESL Message: Happy New Year from Around the Pacific!

Happy New Year from around the Pacific! May the year 2011 bring you many blessings filled with much love, joy, peace, and happiness!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! - English
Filis Añu Nuebo! – Chamorro
Feliz Año Nuevo! – Spanish
Engan ke ya sasu! - Kosraean
Gung Hay Fat Choy – Chinese
Ungil Beches Er Rak! – Palauan
Selsalan Ebéach e duw! – Yapese
Peren En Parakapw! – Pohnpeian
Hauoli Makahiki Hou – Hawaiian
Pwapwan Ei Ier Mi Fo – Chuukese
Sehe Bokmanee Bateuseyo! – Korean
Maligayang Bagong Taon – Tagalog
Cung-Chuc Tan-Xuan! – Vietnamese
Jeramman ilo iio in ekaal! – Marshallese
Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu – Japanese
Ameseighil ubwutiiwel Layúi Luugh me raagh féé! – Carolinian


Image source: Google.com

Sunday, December 12, 2010

ESL Holiday Message

Happy Holidays! During the Holiday Season, let us continue to work together as a family to foster harmony in the community. Remember to share the joy of giving by doing random acts of kindness and celebrating diversity. In as many languages from around the world, we warmly wish you and your family a Very Merry Christmas:

MERRY CHRISTMAS! – English
Chamorro: Felis Pasgua!
Tagalog: Maligayan Pasko!
Chuukese: Pwapwan Kirisimas
Chinese (Cantonese): Gun Tso Sun Tan’Gung Haw Sun –Kung His Hsin Chinese (Mandarin): Nien Bing Chu Shen Tan
Hawaiian: Mele Kalikimaka
Japanese: Shinnen Omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto
Pohnpeian: Peren en Krismas
Marshallese: Monono ilo raaneoan Nejin
Carolinian: Ameseighil ubwutiiwel Layi Luugh me raagh fee
Kosraean: Tok Tapeng
Vietnamese: Chung Mung Giang Sinh
Korean: Sung Tan Chuk Ha
Palauan: Ungil Kurismas
Spanish: Felis Navidad!