What are your overall impressions of this observation?
I observed a seven-year-old student who is in the second grade (coded name- FV) and at an intermediate proficiency level. I feel that this observation was highly valuable to me because I have not been around young students who are past the beginning proficiency level.
What did you learn as a result of the fieldwork?
FV does not have a discernible accent. She speaks remarkably well for any child of seven years old. However, her L1 is Spanish, not English. As a result of this fieldwork, I discovered that even though a student might not have an accent does not mean that she is past needing help from an ESL class. Despite FV’s ability to pronounce words correctly, she often had a difficult time putting her thoughts into words when working with CALP. She clearly still needs assistance in an ESL setting.
What is the value in case study research and analysis in terms of classroom practice?
Case study research and analysis are valuable because they lead to discoveries that might otherwise be left undiscovered. The discoveries that are found about one student can lead to improvements or changes that can benefit many students.
What is the value of the ethnographic narrative?
The ethnographic narrative can serve the purpose of dispelling myths or banishing generalizations that people hold true. The ethnographic narrative that I wrote would lead a reader to realize the common generalizations that people make about ELLs are not valid.
How will this information assist future teachers (next year’s teachers) as well as yourself in meeting the needs of this particular second language learner?
The information gained from this case study research and ethnographic narrative will assist future teachers of this student in that they will realize that just because FV can speak English remarkably well, does not mean that she is understanding or effectively capable of using CALP.
