Action Research Project

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Recommended: Importance of second language acquisition

When I first read about the action research project, I was pretty excited to see that I was going to get to work with a child, plan an intervention, and carry out the proposed plan. This was the first experience I have gotten in my college career that has allowed me to work directly with a child by using a method of teaching and instruction that I could plan and execute. Although it seemed like a daunting task to have to do for the first time, I was very excited for the opportunity since that very thing is what I plan on making my future career out of when I graduate. As for any new experience, learning must be directly involved in order to gain a broader understanding and become more capable of progressing positively through the process. I was given a child in the Hillcrest junior kindergarten classroom to work with who is a student with English as his second language. Because I was given a child to work with, I also got to work with the classroom teacher in producing an intervention plan to carry out in the six weeks I worked with him. The student I worked with is a five-year-old male whose second language is English. He did not have a disability, rather, a disadvantage aside the other children in the classroom. Because his only “disability” came from English being his second language, I was unsure of how I should approach the research to find the best way to support his learning. The student’s first language is Hindi. Since I was with him during the school day, I am unsure of his family dynamics at home. As mentioned previously, he is a student at Hillcrest junior kindergarten where he also sees an ESL teacher for help transitioning between languages. Emotionally, cognitively, and physically, the student seems to be... ... middle of paper ... ...here is a wealth of information and support ideas other people have tried, so when looking for ways to support a child learning a second language, researching other’s successes and failures is a great tool to use to ensure a more efficient and effective intervention. References Heining-Boynton, A. L. (2013). Keys to Success for English Language Learners. Retrieved November 22, 2013, from Learn NC website: http://Keys to success for English language learners Shoebottom, P. (2013). What is the best age to start a second language? Retrieved November 22, 2013, from Frankfurt International School website: http://esl.fis.edu/parents/advice/myth2.htm Verial, D. (2013). Disadvantages to Children Learning a Foreign Language. Retrieved November 22, 2013, from Global Post website: http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/disadvantages-children-learning-foreign-language-18326.html

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