So far I have read and skimmed several articles on the role of culture in English language learning and the importance of content-based instruction.  This will help me design my unit and teach it to ENL students and native-speakers alike.

The TESOL Journal has coined a new acronym: SCLT: Sustained-Content Language Teaching.  It's important to distinguish this from CBI or content-based instruction.  Basically, it takes CBI further and also scaffolds academic language as well as the key content vocabulary.  This is good because it teaches academic skills and metacognitive critical thinking skills necessary to be successful learning English in content-area classes.

Also, I have been looking at several articles on the role of culture as I know culture can be difficult to teach authentically; moreover, it is wrapped up in identity and language so when it is properly addressed in an educational setting there is a lot to be unraveled during the learning experience.

So far, based on my readings, students need to engage with authentic content in meaningful interactions.  A grammar-based or speech based curriculum, which often makes up much learning for English language learners, ignores research that contextualized content-based instruction is where language is truly learned.

If you think about it, it all makes sense.

From the first utterances of language, humans were trying to communicate to each other in meaningful contexts.  I heard the Germans have a lot of "--tch" and "-schitz" like sounds because they would make these awful thrusts of language to keep back invaders and wandering nomads in their land.  I suppose it worked for them as they were never conquered by Rome and now stand out linguistically against the Romantic languages.  English of course made the ultimate rebellion from its German grandfather by playing around with fanciful syntax and a more lightsome opportunity for rhyme and various informal vernaculars.


I look forward to continue my exploration into the roles of culture and teaching language through content via the SCLT model.  My own experience lends me multiple cultural perspectives on learning.  Basically, the ELL students are usually much more traditional than us Americans, but they receive little to no help at home of course, so it is important to teach them American culture and how to use language in various cultural contexts appropriately, while valuing and drawing from theirs, in order to truly engage the learner and get them to really own their language learning.