Today, I was babysitting and I was starting to think we are so use to these little glimpse of other languages with Dora and Spanish. Now there is even Nai Hao Kai-lan. It would be great to create shows around English language learners. United States has so much demand for French in the north, Spanish in the south and many other languages in metropolitan places. This gives a chance to allow them to watch something actually educational before and during the education process while still developing their own language. I know that when I was in high school every Friday we would watch a series that went along with each chapter but still had a story line and characters. These days the average American watches so much television and many parents I know just stick their kids in front of a tv to get things done. Why not have it be educational?! Why not teach them something great and something they can use for the rest of their life !?! Even one of strategies out of the book of 50 strategies for English Language Learners, is scripting! Scripting works because kids love to be entertained. They love plays, television shows and movies because it gives them something to look to and act like. Scripting languages through video I think is the one of the best ways to see how to use it. Even if you had the teachers make a video series where your kids would watch it. Then they see the familiar faces they trust and it gives the teachers a chance to be as silly. Plus, your kids will get to see the other bilingual teachers they could have and that will allow for respect earlier! I have a video below that is one using subtitles for you. The kids get to see object names and just how english speakers use the language.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loNGxjKkMgE
You are so right! Television and technology in general have become of greater use in classrooms and at home. Children to watch a lot of television, so this idea of having teachers create a video for the students is awesome! It will make learning a second language so fun for them! It is important for teachers to model expected behavior, so for students to see the teachers having to do the same thing they are to do and using it in a different environment, helps them relate it to their lives.
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