Chapter 5

TPACK Chapter 5

World Language

            This chapter was very interesting because it discusses how language is acquired and how students need to be fluent in their primary language in order to be more successful in learning another language. The ACTFL and TESOL standards are very realistic and are closely followed nowadays, especially with the influx of immigrant students. Although the standards are pretty specific, they do not include the use of technology. I think that this may be simply because students need to master a language before technology can be fully integrated. Granted, technology could definitely support the teaching, but cannot be relied on explicitly.

            Shulman mentions how their needs to be a merge between content and pedagogy for understanding of topics to take place, and then there needs to be adaptation of the material in order to represent and reach all abilities and cultures of the students in the classroom.  He also discusses the importance of reorganizing and re-teaching concepts in original ways so that it is learned and understood by all students. This idea forces teachers to differentiate material and content in several different ways to reach all levels of students. Technology may assist with this process, but caution needs to be taken as well.

            To be honest, I did not learn really anything new in this chapter because I strictly teach ELL students who are at a variety of different levels on an everyday basis. The only thing that stood out to me was some program that are offered to assist teachers with world language and how to integrate technology effectively, such as the National Foreign Language Resource Center (NFLRC).