Scenario Response 1

This student is stymied in the Acquisition Versus Learning stage of the Brain-based theory of language learning. With little opportunity for the student to practice language in the home it seems that confidence building might be key to helping get her past her ‘best listener in class’ status. She probably understands and can speak more than she is doing, and the teacher can help by creating more student to student interaction, small group work and perhaps a designated student who can assist the student with academic tasks. Any opportunity to use gestures, visuals, paraphrasing and just pure engagement will help move the student further along in her language proficiency.