Native Language Essay: Spanish

Spanish is not my Native Language

Challenges of an English Language Learner

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas

The first language I learned, and became proficient in, is Spanish.  During my childhood, and early educational development, Spanish was the primary language of communication, it being used for talking, speaking, reading, and writing.  Spanish was used at home, in school, and in the community.

The second language I learned, and became proficient in, is English.  Since my teenage years, and secondary/post-secondary educational development, English has been the primary language of communication, it being used for talking, speaking, reading, and writing.  English was used at home, in school, and in the community.

My first language is Spanish, and my second language is English, but neither language is my native language.  My native language is Nahuatl, and I am not proficient in it.  It has not been a part of my life or education, and has not been used for talking, speaking, reading, and writing.  Nahuatl has not been used at home, in school, or in the community.

This is a challenge to me as a Hispanic Latin-American, to learn and become proficient in my native language.  A language which if not learned, will be forgotten.  Learning my native language will allow me to abridge the abyss that has been carved since the time that my native land welcomed those who immigrated from other lands of the world.  A Hispanic Latin-American culture has emerged over the last 500 years, but it did not originate then, it originated when the sun first rose.

Copyright 2013.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

ELL Challenges: Climate

English Language Learner Challenges

Climate: Weather the Weather.

By: Manuel R. CortezRodas

A student who has lived in the tropics is now living in the frozen tundra.  There is now white snowy blizzards being driven by northern winds in the life of a student who has never experience this in the tropics.  Even within the Unites States, students can have difficulties adjusting to the climate when moving from Seattle, Washington to Los Angeles, California; Miami, Florida to Boston, Massachusetts.  There are difficulties students face in their learning when moving within the United States.  These difficulties also exist when moving from one nation to another, one hemisphere to another, one climate to another.

• How to prepare for new weather
1. Shelter: The student's place of residence should be adequately prepared to provide an educational learning environment.
2. Clothing: How to dress for the weather, and not to impress, is a lesson that is very helpful to students who are new to the climate that they will become accustomed to while living in the United States.
3. Information: News and information, weather channel or websites, looking at the sky to see what may come, are some of the ways that students will begin to understand how to make adjustments not just to their wardrobe, but mentally and physiologically.
4. Experience: There is no better way to understand weather than to experience it.  Having a chance to go play in the snow may help you become familiar with winter weather, but it will not prepare you to make it through a blizzard.

It takes a year for someone to experience the complete cycle of weather climate that any one region of the world endures.  It also takes many more years to become accustomed to the variations in weather climate that one experiences when living in a region for a long time.  Even after many years of living in one region, unexpected climate weather can occur.  Some students take time adjusting to new weather changes, and some may never adjust, and while they are adjusting to the weather, they will be expected to perform along side those students who are accustomed to their region's climate.

Copyright 2012 MRCR Educational Consulting Firm. All Rights Reserved.

ELL Challenges: Communication

English Language Learner Challenges

Communication: More than Translating

By: Manuel R. CortezRodas

An obstacle faced by English Language Learners (ELL's) is communication.  Communication is more than translating.  Translating from one language into English is one tool that students who are ELL's should use in developing their communication skills.  Translating is one tool that ELL's can use for communicating.  Pronouncing, Speaking,Writing, Reading, and Grammar, and are other tools that ELL's can use to develop their communication skills in addition to Translating.  With a combination of these skill developing tools, students who are English Language Learners can better their communication skills in the English language. 

1. PRONOUNCING: This skill helps the student hear the phonics of the English language.  If the student does not hear clarity in the pronouncing of English, the student could misunderstand the correct sound.  The student then would adapt the unclear phonics into their speech development.  It would then require that the student learn the correct pronunciation, and remember not to pronounce the phonic in the improper way.
2. SPEAKING: Having a foundation in pronouncing English sounds and words leads to the development of speaking skills.  As the student is developing pronouncing skills, they should also be developing their speaking skills.  As the student learns, pronouncing should lead to speaking words, and expressing thoughts and ideas with some clarity.
3. WRITING: With the base of having develop the ability to pronounce and speak, the student is ready to begin writing in English.  Writing helps the student create the link between what is heard and said, with what is seen in print.
4. READING: When the student sees a word that is printed in English, the student interprets the writing, speaks it with correct pronunciation mentally, and if necessary, the student  should communicate verbally so that others may hear.
5. GRAMMAR: The student should learn the rules of the language to develop their English communication skills in a successful manner.  It is in developing grammar skills that students will refine sentence structure, essay development, and fluency.

Copyright 2012, MRCR Educational Consulting Firm. All Rights Reserved.

English Language Learner Challenges

"English Language Learner Challenges"

By: Manuel R. CortezRodas

This week MRCR Education addresses the challenges faced by English Language Learners or ELL students.  Each day this week a topic that challenges English Learners will be presented.  The four topics that will be the focus of this week's education series are as follows:

• TUESDAY = Communications: "More than translating a language"
• WEDNESDAY = Culture: "Is this the U. S.?"
• THURSDAY = Climate: "Weather the weather"
• FRIDAY = Conditions: "What has the student lived through?"

Check in at 5:00pm Pacific each day this week for each posting on our weekly educational series of topics.  Thank you for your participation.

Copyright. 2012. MRCR Educational Consulting Firm. All Rights Reserved.