Hello, everyone! My name is Janeth Duran, and I am the youngest of three. I am also the daughter of two Mexican immigrants, which means Spanish was my first language. Growing up, I was surrounded by Spanish everywhere I went, and with everyone I spoke to, it was the language that surrounded me.
Once I entered public school, I spoke very little English, so I was immediately placed in ELL (English Language Learner) classes. At first, it was challenging to adjust, as I struggled to communicate with my teachers and keep up with some of my peers. However, I was fortunate to have two older siblings who helped me improve my English at home. Thanks to the fact that they were older than me, they had more experience speaking English, so they worked with me to improve mine. I was only in ELL classes for a short period of time before transitioning into regular classes.
Now that I am actively involved in the school environment, I want to ensure that I provide the right kind of support to my Emergent Bilingual (EB) students. The textbook, states "Misidentified students could be placed improperly in special education programs, or students who truly need special education services could be prevented from receiving them."(Wright 2019. This makes me want to enter the classroom with as much knowledge as possible to make sure I help my ELL students rather than set them back.
My goal is to create an inclusive and encouraging space where they feel confident in their language development while also embracing their cultural identities. I believe it's important to incorporate different languages in the classroom to ensure that students feel seen and connected to their cultural roots.
This topic is very near and dear to my heart because I was once an ESL student, and it’s an experience I often reflect on. To this day, there are moments when I struggle with English, but I will always be proud of my roots.
Wright, W. E. (2019). Foundations for teaching English language learners: Research, theory, policy, and practice (3rd ed.). Caslon Publishing.
Hello Janeth,
ReplyDeleteI really connected with your story, especially since I also grew up navigating two languages. I admire how you’ve taken your experience as an ELL student and turned it into a passion for helping others. Your perspective is so valuable, especially since you know firsthand how it feels to be in their shoes. It’s inspiring that your siblings played such a big role in helping you, and now you’re paying it forward by creating a supportive environment for your students.
I completely agree with your point about the importance of properly identifying students’ needs. Misidentification can have such a huge impact, and it’s clear you’re dedicated to being the kind of teacher who advocates for your students. I also love your focus on embracing cultural identities and incorporating different languages in the classroom. It’s such a powerful way to make students feel valued and connected.
Your pride in your roots shines through, and it’s a beautiful reminder of how our experiences shape the teachers we become. Your students are lucky to have someone who truly understands their journey!
Thank you so much for your thoughtful words! One thing that I always want my students to understand is that I care about them and will always advocate for them! I’m grateful to support my students in embracing their identities. Representation matters, and I’m committed to creating an inclusive, empowering classroom for my students!
DeleteHi Janeth! I absolutely love your VBLOG and I think you did an amazing job on it. I wanted to say that I admire how connected you are with ELL students. In my opinion because you were once an ELL student yourself there is a deeper connection between you and your ELL students that I may have to mine. However it is what we can do in our future classroom to ensure that each student feels safe to learn in our classrooms. I think it is amazing that you want to go in as knowledgeable as possible to better help your students. It is important that we have an inclusive environment like you said, so our students feel comfortable in their language development. It is vital that we identify and appreciate each and every culture in our classroom and I am glad you plan to do that.
ReplyDeleteHi Marissa, thank you for your kind words! I truly believe our shared commitment to creating inclusive, supportive classrooms will make a difference in any school that we end up in. Every student deserves to feel valued and safe while learning. I hope that in the future we can have classrooms that all cultures and languages are celebrated!
Delete