I really believe in bilingualism. There is a saying in my country, Costa Rica--"Hombre bilingue vale por dos"--A bilingual
man is worth twice as much. I came back to the United States because I wanted my family to have the opportunity of becoming
bilingual, and I wanted to further my education.
Good teaching requires teamwork and constant, effective communication. We need to collaborate and share ideas about ESL
strategies and successful classroom practices. We need the opportunity to plan together to meet students' different needs.
Not all students learn in the same way, especially when their English proficiency is low. Some require different approaches.
We need to learn about students' cultures; to reach out to students, modifying tests and assignments; and to build a communication
bridge with the students and their families.
I organized "Partners in Print" meetings, which start at 6:30 pm when the principal and I greet parents. I begin the lesson
with a review. I introduce a new concept (e.g., title, characters, setting). I read the children a story, keeping the new
concept in mind. I ask students questions about the story we just read. Then parents have 15 minutes to read a bilingual book
to their children. They have a guide that tells what kinds of questions to ask their children. Finally, the children check
out some bilingual books to take home and we have refreshments and social time, which strengthens our bonds and improves our
relationships. Before they leave, students get a free book to take home.
Source: http://www.tesol.org/s_tesol/sec_document.asp?CID=20&DID=2923
