Reflection:
By interviewing Mrs. Le I learned about many challenges everyone faces in their life. However, they can also overcome those challenges with the support from their friends and family. When Mrs. Le was very young it was a very difficult time for her to communicate in school with her friends and teachers. Researchers have stated. "For one, in the case of very young children who are exposed to several languages, it may be impossible to determine whether the two or more languages in question are being learned simultaneously (that is, bilingually or multilingually) or sequentially (that is, as an L2)." (Ortega, 2011, Pg. 5). Even with many challenges and struggles she still continued to learn English. She then started getting pulled out for ESL classes, which was very beneficial for her. I can relate to that, because when I had first started attending schools in America I was struggling to comprehend certain instructions in English. So I started attending ESL classes which really helped me improve in my writing and fluency as well. Even though sometimes people may have to attend ESL classes for several years it is very beneficial for them throughout the upcoming years. For example, Mrs. Le had to attend ESL classes for several years and even though she was unable to speak English very well, she was still a good writer. Main way Mrs. Le received support was with her classroom friends and teachers as well. She wasn't getting help by having a translator translate a certain lesson to her. But her teacher and friends communicated with her in a well educated manner where it was easier for her to grasp the language in a new way as well. Mrs. Le also received help with her grammar because it was really different compared to what she had known. Researchers have stated, "Whether in second, foreign or heritage language teaching, the battles have been for and against traditional grammar teaching and alternative meaning-oriented proposals, including communicative language teaching, task-based curricula, content-based instruction and focus on form instruction." (Ortega, 2011, Pg. 8). With the help received with communication and certain instructions being presented to the students it made things easier for Mrs. Le to make connections and comprehend certain criteria better. When Mrs. Le used to live in a small community she faced few challenges where people would make rude comments when she would pass by them. Which would leave her to question her lifestyles compared to others. However, her friends in school never let her feel different around them. Researchers have stated, "Sympathizers of anti-immigrant movements in various countries lament that newcomers to their societies allegedly refuse to learn the language of
the majority and persist in settling for rudimentary survival language skills only, even after decades of living in their new country." (Ortega, 2011, Pg. 8). However, when Mrs. Le had came to America she was ready to learn English and overcome all the challenges she was going to be facing. Even with the daily struggles she was facing from her neighbors, that didn't stop her from becoming successful and becoming a leader for young individuals in her current lifestyle. Mrs. Le is currently a first grade teacher and teaches a GT class in the grade level. She also tutors children after school to help them with math or any needed subjects they may need help on.
To learn more about Mrs Le please click the link below. Thank You!
Interview of a Second Language Speaker Video
