11/3

Creating and fostering language awareness is especially important in an ESL classroom because there is most likely going to be several forms and variations of English being spoken in the classroom. As a teacher of ESL students I think that it's so important that we are sensitive and accepting of the variations that they bring into the classroom. This doesn't mean though, that they shouldn't be informed of formal and academic English. As a bilingual education major we always talk about how there is not only one correct way to speak English, but there are proper ways to speak in different settings. ESL students should be taught that the language they bring with them and the variation of English that they speak is accepted and valued, but in certain contexts they need to speak standard English to be appropriate. This is why I found critical language awareness to be important in the classroom. As ESL students, they are all going to come from different backgrounds, speak differently, and interpret things differently. This is why it is crucial for them to be able to analyze aspects of language critically. ESL teachers need to make it clear to their students that there isn't always one way to do something. This goes for any area of a language. There isn't simply one way to respond to an argument, ask a question, or write a phrase. I think to make this the least complicated as possible for them. they need to be taught to look at the context and surroundings of the situations. Are they speaking to someone in a more formal setting or one of their friends? Are they at church or on the playground? Could someone have interpreted the question differently than they did? All of these things come into play when learning a language. If the students aren't made aware that they need to look at language critically, then they will have a very difficult time learning the standard form of English and using it appropriately.