It is no surprise that English Language Learners are composing over half of the schools population.Technologies today can help English Language Learners in a number of ways.Programs such as Kurzweil 3000, this program boosts the accessibility to grade level because it can scan and read content in any text format and in multiple languages. Other great programs for assisting English Language Learners are Reading Assistant and My Reading Coach. Teachers have even gone as far as using individual computer programs to help their students who are English Language Learners.Technology has made it easier to gain access to helpful tools that could really assist English Language Learners. Other fun technology that can be used to assist English Langauge Learners is online games and electronic books offered on the web.
However, some would argue that although software might be effective and very helpful,teachers may not have the right training to use the web or computer to assist English Language Learners. But technology can serve as a great aid. Take for example Margaret Hawkins, a professor as University of Wisconsin. She believes that the use of technology for English Langauge Learners is happening outside of the classroom, such as online games, chat rooms and other Web based interactions. Technology is making an incredible impact on students who are English Language Learners, making it easier for them to be part of a classroom and not feel as if they are just a body in a desk. Technology is a great way to bridge the gap between English Language Learners and students who already speak English.
www.edutopia.org/technology-software-english-language-learners
Hello Lindsey,
ReplyDeleteI read the same article you did and I was surprised to see some of the statistics that are predicted for English Language Learners. It was interesting to see that by 2015 one in three American children will be an English Language Learner. It is a good thing that technology will be able to fill the gap between the rising number of ELL students and professional ELL educators. I also wish that I could have used these technologies when I was taking Spanish classes in high school. I feel that these programs provide an increased sense of fluency for those trying to learn a language in depth.
Thanks,
Kasey Vice
I also read that since 1992, limited-English-proficient (LEP) student enrollment has nearly doubled. When I observed classes for adult ELL students, the instructors were all previous ELL students themselves. The technology certainly can bridge a gap.
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