Language barrier.
Bing bilingual in more the one language helps me help my students understand the text and direction for lab.
Romana ,
yes, let's remember that if we were learning a new academic discipline in a language that is not our first language, we'd be struggling too. Has nothing to do with potential or intelligence!
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I agree. Since English is not my first language I feel that I am able to assist my ESL students with some of their comprehension problems much better than if I was not bilingual. It is important for instructors to realize that the students who are facing a language barrier are more than capable of learning the material, once they get over the roadblock which lack of the knowledge of English.
Being a bilingual helps me to separate the sound of the words, and the root of the language. I like to help using the first language to the application of the subject.
Giving the student something to remember the term by; whether it is the root, the word in their own language, how the word was developed, any of these help the student remember the word.
It is great that you can use your first language to help you teach the subject.
Charles,
Good point & you're right that if we listen & take time we will be further ahead.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
yes bilingual would help. but just listing and taking the time with your students goes fare
Me too being a bilingual with my first language very close to Spanish, makes me easy to give examples, illustrations and translations of medical words and terminologies. Most medical terms are in latin and its difficullt for many students to remember, but bridging by finding the root words makes it easy to understand and then remember.
