ELLs in the 21st Century

We entered the 21st century 17 years ago, you would think with all the Smartphones and digital media teachers would be comfortable using technology with their students, but many are still on the fence.  Perhaps is that many teachers and administrators still see technology as an extra task to do and have not made the transfer to realize that if you integrate technology into your content you will reap many benefits.  It will actually make your job easier and the most important reason is it will engage students into the content you are trying to teach.  As a matter of fact if you integrate technology well your students will not realize they are learning because they will be enjoying themselves so much. Some people say, that these kids are already getting so much technology at home they don't need to get more at school.  Some parents even protest when schools want to use technology at school, since they are already spending so much time on devices outside of school. ...

Language It is not surprising that ELLs have a language divide and that depending on when they arrived in the United States this divide will impact their lives to a lesser or greater degree.  I have been in the U.S. since I was nine and even though English has become my main language, I will always be an ELL.  It doesn't affect my reading or listening, but my speaking and my writing continue to be a challenge especially if I am nervous.  I remember in college when I got nervous my English accent would get more pronounced and I would struggle to pronounce everyday words although they were part of my common usage. Now I still struggle to express myself when I get nervous, my ideas are clear in my head, but what comes out gets all jumbled up.  Especially if I am speaking among natives and they start looking at me like they can't understand what I am saying, then the nervousness increases and I need a translator to make my point. As for many ELLs this is my divide....