Language and Group Work

Dr. Eugene Garcia stated that language needs to be used in order for students to develop the necessary skills of the language. In the classrooms at my current elementary school, I have seen a change in the way the teachers teach their students, especially compared to my experience in grade school. There is a lot of action and discussion in the classrooms. I remember a college professor's words of wisdom when she spoke of conversational classrooms. She stated that a silent classroom should worry the teacher, while an active and social classroom guides learning. This is true for all students who are learning to interact, speak, and learn the language. This applies to all grade levels and all learners.

I feel that it is beneficial for students to work in small groups of no more than 5 students. This helps to divide the work evenly so all members can contribute. (Although, whole group discussions can be beneficial as well.) In small groups, the students can easily discuss the material and feel that their voices are heard while in a safe and comforting environment. The students who are learning English can practice the language in these small non-threatening situations. Practicing and experiencing the language is essential to learning it. The students and teacher work together to guide one another to the main idea of the lesson, while discussing the similarities and differences in opinions. This also allows students to interact with other students who they may not otherwise interact with on a daily basis. The idea of group learning has a multitude of benefits for the learning in the classroom.