Week 6

I found “Unfinished Knowledge” very interesting because it discusses how although some teachers make have good intentions when it comes to getting to know their students culturally, they may not be going about it the right way.  This article made me reflect a lot on how I view culture and how I was culture to be discussed in my classroom.  To avoid making generalizations and stereotypes I want to try to get know each one of my students on a personal level.  I will never assume anything about any of my students.  Each student has had different experiences in his or her life that make them who they are.  I think that the strategies that Barbara used were ok, but she tended to generalize.  I believe it is important for teachers to never get a fixed idea in their heads of what a culture is or looks like.  After all, culture is always changing and can depend on a person’s experiences.  This is why I want to take the time to get to know each of my students.  I want to learn about their life experiences and how they have affected them.  I want to build authentic relationships with my students and let them know that I am genuinely interested in who they are and their culture. 

Other readings discuss writing of ESL students versus writing of native English speakers.  I think that American schools push the organization part of writing a little too much.  I do think it is important for students to organize their thoughts, however, because of different cultural backgrounds; they may want to organize and share their thoughts in a different way.  Who are we to tell them that their way of thinking isn’t correct and that they need to do it a different way?  I remember being in school when I was younger and my teacher constantly making us fill out a graphic organizer before writing essays.  We were all so tired of that same graphic organizer because we understood and we didn’t need it pushed on us anymore. 

I also think that it is unreasonable to expect ESL students to perform as well as native English speakers on tests written in English.  I strongly believe in tests being administered in students’ native language.  I agree with Silva that students need more time and help from teachers.  I also believe though, that some things do not need to be pushed on them so much.  Sentence structure and grammar need to be mastered of course.  But I do not believe that students should always have to follow that same intro, three paragraphs with ideas and details, and a conclusion.  If students want to organize and express their thoughts in a different way, than they should be allowed to do so.  Teachers can still give advice or help them clean up their work, I just don’t think it is ok to tell students that their way of thinking is wrong or not as good as the way we organize our written papers here.