Mod 2 Discussion: What the Research Means to Me

For me, the biggest take away from this lesson and the four implications listed is that while society has made progress since the enactment of the Civil Rights Act and subsequent pieces of legislation, our country still falls short of equality for ELL students. 

Our home state of Florida, home to a diverse population of non-English speakers, highlights this discrepancy, as evidenced by LULAC’s continued case against the state. 

Proper training is the key remedy. ESOL training for teachers must be in-depth enough to prepare us to understand the history of the matter, be knowledgeable of the research that guides effective language acquisition, and then implement strategies at school to ensure success for all students.

It is important to note that this module conveys the point that the time frame in which the ELL student learns should be considered flexible and of lesser importance. The priority on ESOL education is that knowledge and language skills are acquired. As dedicated professionals, this must be our shared outlook.