A Wrap-Up of YOED-6020

YOED-6020 has been a wild and bumpy ride full of information that I will use every day in my (future) ESL classroom!  In the past couple of weeks, I have found myself researching methods, strategies, and techniques for literacy instruction that will make me the best ESL teacher possible!  Two of my favorite sites for such valuable information include the following:

• CAELA's site has a great page entitled ESL Methods & Approaches which contains a number of links to related articles: http://www.cal.org/caela/tools/instructional/esl_methods.html

•  Colorin Colorado's site is for bilingual families and ESL educators.  Their page entitled For Educators is loaded with valuable information about literacy instruction and other topics: http://www.colorincolorado.org/educators/

While all of the content covered in YOED-6020 will lead to better literacy instruction for ELLs, I found the topic of thematic instruction especially enlightening.  Thematic units are based on one general topic and span the content areas while addressing all of the language skills: listening, speaking, writing, and reading.  I thoroughly enjoyed designing part of a thematic unit about food (grocery shopping in particular) for adult ELLs.  I found myself wanting to complete the entire unit because I had so many ideas!  I can see how this type of instruction can be used for any age group and proficiency level with the use of differentiated instruction including scaffolding.

I was happy to take YOED-6020, because it took all of the information that I learned in the research-based classes I've taken in the past semester and put it into practical applications that I will use in the future!

ESL Methods

Through class readings and related research in YOED-6020, I have discovered many different methods, strategies, and techniques that are well-suited to the teaching of ELLs.  These include Direct Method, Audio-Lingual Method, Total Physical Response Approach, The Natural Approach, Thematic Instruction, Sheltered Instruction, Differentiated Instruction, and many more.

I have volunteered with adult ELLs, and I feel that the Direct Method in conjunction with the Audio-Lingual Method would be the best for instructing them.  Both of these methods place an emphasis on oral and listening skills, utilize dialogues as a means to introduce new material, incorporate everyday vocabulary at every opportunity, and focus less on grammatical components of the L2.   The Direct Method also urges cultural awareness and instruction.  Adult ELLs are highly concerned with adapting to their new environment in the quickest way possible with little importance placed on grammar skills.  These methods lend themselves to this goal. Within these methods, a number of different strategies can be used, but I prefer utilizing thematic instruction because focus can be placed on topics that are highly relevant to the students as well as interesting to the students.


I tend to find myself as a facilitator in the adult ESL classroom.  The Direct Method and Audio-Lingual Method fit in with this teaching style as students are often collaborating with one another on various tasks and in dialogues.

Teaching ESL is the Greatest!

Why do I want to teach ESL?  I want to teach ESL because it so rewarding to me as a teacher and valuable to the student.  I know many people from other countries, including my husband, and I know the difficulties they face in learning English.  I want to help ELLs with those difficulties.  So far, my only classroom experience with teaching ELLs has been volunteering in an adult ESL class.  I have found it very rewarding, and it has definitely whet my appetite for my future career!  With every class I take, I am one step closer in reaching my goal to become an ESL teacher, and I can hardly wait!

Welcome to my blog!

Hello!  My name is Mrs. Meric, and I am a full-time graduate student at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.  I am working on a degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in English as a Second Language.  I am excited to share my educational journey with you!