2. The Initial Meeting
• Giselle Mae is an eleven year old sixth grade student.
• She moved to the United States from Puerto Rico, six
months ago.
• The primary language spoken in her home is Puerto
Rican Spanish; however, she also understands English.
• In Puerto Rico, she received average grades in
Reading, Writing, Mathematics, History and
Civics, Science, and English; which is taught as a foreign
language.
3. In Giselle Mae’s own words…
• "It is hard for me to learn in English that I can’t
understand the hard words."
• "The difference from my language and English because I
was born their. We are not speaking English in school all
the time.”
• "I learn English seens I was second grade but I just speak
a little English.”
• Giselle Mae smiled broadly as she said, “It was easy to
learn English because our second language is English!”
4. Frequent Errors in L2
• Omission of subject pronoun when the subject
was given in the previous sentence
Mia hates the beach. Gets burnt.
• Using “no” before a verb
Mummies no rattle chains.
• Adjective – Noun Placement
House beautiful was for sale.
5. Additional Frequent Errors
Incorrect use of Quotation Omission of Past tense "ed"
marks
• “Esta freezing out • She ask us if we want to take
here, Rebecca said to her lessons.
brother.”
• I walk to school yesterday.
• Donna ask, “Have you
problems sleeping”.
• I talk to my teacher about the
• “Don't forget to not wear your report.
coat, Mom said this morning
as I left for school.”Margie told • He laugh when I fell.
• Clint, You can't listen to that
CD new while you work.
6. Spanish vs. English
Spanish English
• Five vowels • Five vowels
• Vowels are pronounced one • Vowels pronounced 12
way different ways
• 5 diphthongs • 8 diphthongs
• Three double-letter • Fifteen double-letter
combinations cc, ll, rr combinations
• Plural “s” may be omitted • Plural includes “s”
7. Spanish Phonological Influences
• Letter J does not exist
• voiceless th (thump) doesn't exist
• voiced th (that) does not exist
• V is pronounced with the /b/ sound
8. Spanish Grammatical Influences
• “no” before the verb is common
• Comparative adjectives are often marked with more
instead of “er”
• Regular past tense “ed” may be omitted
• Subject pronouns may be omitted
• Future tense may omit the helping verb
9. Implication for L2 Instruction
• Consider ELLs’cultural backgrounds, beliefs and
values
• Include cultural context instruction
• Communicate and set high, but
realistic, expectations
• Student-centered instruction
10. Instructional Strategies for teaching
English when L1 is Spanish
• Dialogue Journals ~ to communicate with a
teacher
• Learning Logs ~ to determine key concepts
and to synthesize
• Literature Circle ~ to develop academic
language skills
• Making text-to-self, text-to-world, and text-to-
text Connections. (http://www.alliance.brown.edu/pubs/nclr/edells_impinstprct.pdf)
11. … more Instructional Strategies for
teaching English when Spanish is the L1
• Pattern Books and Repetitive Songs
• Cloze Procedure : Using Prior Knowledge
• Graphic Organizers
• Cooperative Learning
• Draw Then Write
(http://www.alliance.brown.edu/pubs/nclr/edells_impinstprct.pdf)
12. Modifications and Specialized
Instructional Strategies
• testing in small group
• test direction read aloud/clarified
• access to study guides
• ESL instruction four hours per week
13. Don’t forget to use….
• TPR Storytelling (Teaching Proficiency through
Reading and Storytelling or TPRS)
• Pictures
• Graphic Organizers
• Hand Gestures
• Role play
• Animation
• Easy Readers
• Universal games
• Hands on activities
