Material Review - Essay Example

Material Review One of the best games that can help bilingual in grade 5 is ‘the I spy’ game. In most cases, bilingual students encounter major challenges in learning a second language. Though these students are required by authorities to acquire the best proficiency possible (Freeman & Free man, 35) it becomes a challenge; the use of such games as spy games makes such learning much easier and fun to such grade 5 students. According to a Positive Engagement Report (5) the spy game was developed by scholastics as a series of various books aimers at keeping children involved in the learning process, active, interested, and instilling fun in the entire learning activities, in motivating such students to learn faster, and comprehend such second language terminologies. The game is easy to ply, and any child despite their proficiency in English finds it easier and fun. For such bilingual students, the instructor can start by saying “I spy with my little eyes something green” in the students native language, and then the child is supposed to guess what the teacher would be referring to. Such cycle is repeated over and over; the things the teacher refers to once identified can then be given English names to enable students to comprehend such items in English as well as connecting to their native language. The creator of the game has published numerous books that have helped students in grasping such concepts much easily. The class room has 20 students between 9 and 11 years at grade 5, and the students are proficient Spanish speakers. Students have enrolled for an English lesson, while most of them are first and second generation immigrants from Spain. The reason behind selection of this game is its great importance in involving students in the learning processes, improving the thinking capacity of a child, and connecting between written, verbal, and visual elements in the learning process. Freeman and Freeman (36) explains acquisition as one of the ways that foreign language learners can learn a new language according to their environment, though such learning is not that much effective. Since the students are proficient Spanish speakers, such transition from Spanish to naming items in English will be appropriate as they will slowly learn how to recognize items in English, before they improve and perfect their verbal skills. Such materials will therefore help such young leaners to connect between their native langue and English, and comprehend such meanings, which will be a major step towards learning English. The material chosen for the lesson is appropriate as it will enhance creativity and improve thinking among students. At grade 5, such students should have an ability to communicate using images and portray creativity in the learning processes as well as use of selected principles and elements in creating images according to certain defined criteria (Ministry of Education, 40). Therefore, the learning material is aimed at enabling students to reflect on items in their own native language and translate such reflection into English langue, which will enable them to grasp the basic concepts verbally and in written format. Freeman and Freeman (36) argues that the key to acquisition is receiving messages that we understand; implying that understanding directions in a foreign language will require the student to make meanings in their own language first. The specific context of the lesson will involve enabling students to grasp concepts in a foreign language, and connect such learning to their own language. Therefore, at first the instructor will lead the class by initiating the “I spy” game, pinpointing visible elements in the compound in Spanish, where students will be required to identify the specific elements; the instructor writes them down both in Spanish and English. Freeman and Freeman (36) argue that students will acquire ability to read and write the same way they acquire a second language. In writing the names of the elements identified by students in both languages, the instructor will improve not only reading but also the writing skills of such students as they will be required to write such words in both languages. The goals of the lesson will therefore be enabling students gain skills in identifying common objects in English, teaching how best to pronounce and write such words appropriately, and training them to use cognitive skills in being creative as they participate in the game. The lesson will also enhance their communication skills and abilities, encouraging such students to participate in classroom environment, which boosts their confidence and willingness to learn. Freeman and Freeman (38) argue that the main task during reading is to construct meanings, where readers will use their background knowledge from text and make sense of print materials. Construction of meaning is therefore essential in understanding. Students will be taught to first recognize and describe elements in their own native language, which will be much easier in recognizing, reading, and even writing, while the same meaning has to be transposed into English language. Students will therefore learn to make meaning into two different languages, allowing them to enhance their understating and learning English language. This as Freeman and Freeman (39) elaborates will enable the teacher to use a word recognition view of reading, helping students identify words on paper as words they have already encountered, and know their real meanings and practice oral vocabulary. Such an approach will enable the written language skills to build on oral language skills and abilities of such students. Moreover, pronouncing and comprehending a word is not the same thing. Such a learning game will enable students to learn the difference in case some homonyms are encountered (Freeman and Freeman, 38). Moreover, Freeman and Freeman (118) emphasizes on meaningful reading and writing in students. According to Ministry of Education (9) students in grade 5 should learn how to organize information around major points, which entails the use of research questions and deliver formal presentations as required. Therefore, in the lesson plan above, students will learn how best to organize their thoughts in presenting an idea through such inquiry and identifying elements around them. From identifying elements and knowing how best to present such ideas verbally and in written form, the lesson will equip such students with basic abilities to describer simple elements and aspects, which amounts to leaning how to organize information appropriately. Importantly, connecting between the two different languages in teaching such grade 5 students will have the advantage of drawing from students’ primary cultures and languages, which as Freeman and Freeman (80) argues is the best way to enable such English Learners make out meanings and lean much faster in a second language. Learning a second language in grade five students is an essential step as it prepares a student to communicate in the second language effectively; in this case being English. The best approach in such a learning process is drawing on a method that allows such students to construct meanings from their native language and then transpose such meanings into English language, where they will comprehend and learn on writing and pronunciation skills of new words studied. “I Spy” game is one of the holistic approaches that can involve multiple students’ skills at the same time, while allowing students to have fun in the learning processes. This will involve, writing, reading skills, pronunciations, enhancing creativity, involving their native cultures in the reading process as well as instilling confidence in communicating. However, the major drawback would be slow learners in such a case where instructors have to pay more attention and encourage them to participate in the game to boost their confidence and motivate them in the learning process. Work Cited Freeman David and Freeman Yvonne, English Language Learners: The Essential Guide, NY: Scholastic Inc.,2007. Positive Engagement Project, Acing Math (One Deck At A Time!): A Collection of Math Games http://www.edgalaxy.com/storage/acing_math.pdf Accessed 3rd Dec. 2012 Ministry of Education, Grade 5 Curriculum Package, September 2010 http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp/curric_grade_packages/gr5curric_req.pdf Accessed 3rd Dec. 2012 Read More