This narrative describes a practice-oriented contribution in the ESL resource class, specifically, the impact of a cross-cultural approach (Mouboua et al., 2024) and how it played a role in the plot design of a curricular model intended to help multilingual learners at public schools in the US to switch themselves from a passive role to a more active one in their second language acquisition process. It also provides an analysis of the challenges and benefits of incorporating the sociolinguistic needs of multilingual learners and the functionality of the second language intended to learn (Garrido and Oliva, 2015). The methodological framework and scope of some of the interventions during the ESL sessions at the middle school and high school levels include the incorporation of student-centered approaches combined with the goals and aims in classes such as English language arts, Geometry, World Geography, and Writing composition; in other words, the integration of interdisciplinary learning in the ESL class. The outcomes from this experience suggests the importance of adapting materials and activities bringing out the cultural component of different diverse groups of students in the classroom, exploring the role of teaching and learning strategies that include visual and auditory clues rather than promoting the use of continuous plain translations, and the relevance of advocating for more professional development practices that guide general education teachers to build those self-reflections to start the process of understanding the aims of a culturally responsive pedagogy (Auslander, 2018).

Authors:
Lucia Reyes Navarro, Williamsburg Public Schools, United States

About the Presenter(s)
Ms. Reyes is a Language Instructor Educational Program teacher in Virginia, USA. Her current project focuses on Cross-cultural studies, sheltered instruction, interdisciplinary learning, community pedagogies in EFL/ESL/ELL, and distance learning.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucia-reyes-33965b307/

See this presentation on the full schedule – Saturday Schedule

Bookmark