IMMIGRANTS & DLI STUDENTS

TEACHINHG IMMIGRANTS AND DLI STUDENTS

By Beckett, E., and Haley, P. 2000,
This article talks about effective ways teachers can use to teach and overcome the boundaries of the second languages. The topic "Teaching language learners"is an exciting topic which touches my career as a teacher and addresses the language learners. At the same time, I and my family experienced the same barriers when we immigrated to the U.S.A in 2002. My children at that time faced some challenges and barriers which required a certain kind of teachers to help them get out of the shocks safely and acquire the new language easily.
Thus, teaching languages,as mentioned in the article, especially second languages, is a big challenge for both the teacher and the learner. In this century the importance of learning a second language has become a necessity, not to mention, in the first world countries like America. At the same time the number of immigrants to the United States is rapidly increasing, that is, they are in a bad need of learning English to be able to communicate and survive in the new society.
The writer mention an statictics about the numbers of immigrants to the U.S.A, about 55 thousand families inter the U.S.A legally yearly beside more than 15 thousands for study, tourism and other purposes. I am one of them who came with English as a second language and despite my job as a teacher of English in my country, I feel that I am still in need to improve it. Like wise, that happened even with my own children who were 0+ in English when they landed on the U.S.A. These students are also among the lowest ranking in academic achievement and expectations.
The article talk about the effective ways the teachers can use to help learners acquire the language they need.
similarities between DLI students and immigrants:-
The writer focused on the challenges and difficulties that any immigrant face in learning the new language, However, I take the chance now to make a comparison between Immigrants and DLI students as I see the writer's ideas are very useful for both immigrants and DLI students and me too.Comparing the immigrants students and DLI students, I find too much similarity; both have to achieve good academic grades, speak to communicate, do certain jobs, understand the culture involved in this society, Immigrants learn English as a second language and DLI students learn other languages and both face a lot of shocks and barriers e.g. new teachers, new languages, new culture, new societies, new friends and even new atmosphere that students should accommodate themselves on.
I see the article is very useful as it privides the remedy for these challenges such as; the instructors have to have patience, tolerance, experience and knowledge of those new students'cultures to go straight in their job and take the students hands to learn the new language. My reaction to that article is that; As educators, we must continually reflect on our teaching and update our practice to address the needs of second language learnersand place a strong focus on the human side of teaching. We must continually focus on these students and find effective ways to arrange their learning to help them achieve the goals appropriately.I see these ideas the writer mentined is applicable as the writer has a deep background in handling the problem with solutions. He used the convencing and logical method to deliver his thoughts. The author concluded that immigrants are in need a special way from teachers like patience, following up their progress and motivating them to immerge in the new society.
Personally I got much more benefits about teaching foreign languages like Arabic fromthat article.

REFRENCES:-
1- Beckett, E., and Haley, P. 2000. Using standards to integrate academic language into ESL fluency. The Clearing House, 74, 2, 102-104. Accessed through Wilson Web on-line database on June 10, 2001.