For my interview with a bilingual speaking teacher I decided to interview Ms. Momin. She is currently teaching at Barrington Place Elementary school. However, they are not a Bilingual or Dual language school but they have majority of ESL speaking students. Ms. Momin works with students and teaches like a Bilingual teacher also has experiences from many years of teaching in different Bilingual schools. Also Ms. Momin teaches every Saturday at her church and her class is a Bilingual speaking class. Because majority of the students at her school speak a native language. She communicates with them in English and their native language as well. Ms Momin uses many strategies to help her students comprehend certain lesson. She uses things that can work best for individuals and at times she uses multiple manipulative because every student comprehends certain criteria with different understandings. Researchers state, “Human language manifests itself in spoken, signed, and written systems across more than 6,500 languages documented to date.” (Ortega, 2011, Pg. 2). Just like Ortega, Ms. Momin helps many of her students work together and scaffold from each other. That way they are able to speak with each other clearly and start getting used to certain everyday words they may be using. So it is easier for many students to write with certain everyday strategies they may be using within the classroom. Ms. Momin always wants her students to feel comfortable that way they can express themselves so it is easier for Ms. Momin to provide them the best support they may need. There are many other methods Ms. Momin uses within her classroom as well. She has word wall words the students can always refer back to or use while writing a story or to have access to use them at all times. Researchers state, “The single most important source of L2 learning is comprehensible input, or language which learners process for meaning and which contains something to be learned, that is, linguistic data slightly above their current level” (Ortega, 2011. Pg 59). Ms. Momin always encourages her students to positive aspects. If theres a certain word she may not know then she goes above and beyond just to help the student better by researching about it or going on google translate. Ms. Momin has a well structured classroom which is always motivating for all her students. She never wishes to give up on any of her students. She always wants to help her students in any way that may work for them. Often times when students are working with each other she wants her struggling students to learn and not just follow along. So she groups her low learning students with her middle learning students as well. She doesn't just group her low students with a high students. Because she doesn't want her high students to do all the work. Ms. Momin has encouraged me to teach my students in many different ways that are always beneficial for them.
Click the link to learn more about Ms. Momin!Interview of an Bilingual Teacher Video
