This article discusses the use of image based methods
in writing with adolescent English language learners. Some of the positive effects include growth
in students writing proficiency and raising awareness of reasons to care about
school. The article emphasizes the power of using visual materials in aiding ELL
adolescent students who are at the beginning level of language learning.
The writing method describes several findings:
Finding 1. Asking ELLs to write. Instead of telling
ELL students why school and writing are important, the researchers asked
them what they believed about school.
Students documented this through photographs and writing. Students revealed unexpected insights into
their personal lives, which was sometimes negative, and they began to see the
value in having an education thus increasing motivation.
Finding 2. Others’ images as engaging. Using peers’ work helped with engagement and
appreciation of writing activities. The
assignment students had was to analyze their peer’s photos or images and
address certain questions about the photos/images. Students were intrigued with one another’s
work, especially in finding commonalities.
They learned from one another and were more likely to share more about
themselves after looking at pictures from other people their age.
Finding 3. Walking – photo walking – beyond the
classroom. In this activity, students
and teachers ventured outside the classroom into other parts of the school and
even outside the school into the community.
They took photos that they later reflected on and wrote about. Students began to see that many things in
their lives outside of school can have an impact on their lives.
Adolescent beginning language learners would benefit
greatly from methods such as these, which incorporate visual materials into
writing activities, especially if students are writing about their own life
experiences.
Bell, A., Ewaida, M., Lynch, M.,
& Zenkov, K. (Nov 2012) Seeing how to ask first: Photo elicitation
motivates English language learners to write. Middle School Journal v44 n2.
Retrieved from http://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ990871
How are you utilizing each of the articles that you are summarizing on your blog. I think each of the articles are very informative, but it is hard for me to understand just how you will use this information for your research.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of using a pictorial or symbolic system to helping ELL's express what they know. I think you might want to put in your research problem so others understand how these articles relate to your research.
ReplyDeleteYou might also want to address how you might use this research to inform your study.
ReplyDeleteUsing pictures and symbols to help ELL students communicate, almost seems like common sense. In my experience in trying to learn another language, pictures were used to help the interpretation. It's sad to me that ELL students are looked at and treated like they are from another planet and have come here with some deadly disease. I wish that people would treat all people equally.
ReplyDeleteI love how this project integrates the arts. As already stated, it does seem like such a common sense idea to include imagery into ELL assignments, plus allowing students to find their own images and their own voice is so beneficial for all students!!
ReplyDelete