[NIFL-ESL:9156] Re: Results from Context Question

From: Carol Speigl (cleespeig@worldnet.att.net)
Date: Sat Jul 12 2003 - 02:28:01 EDT


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From: "Carol Speigl" <cleespeig@worldnet.att.net>
To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov>
Subject: [NIFL-ESL:9156] Re: Results from Context Question
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Holly,

I think you provided a very good explanation of the terms, content and
context.

Carol Speigl
Project Learn to Read
San Antonio
----- Original Message -----
From: "Holly Gensaw" <hgensaw@ncen.org>
To: "Multiple recipients of list" <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2003 5:02 PM
Subject: [NIFL-ESL:9124] Re: Results from Context Question


> My understanding of the difference between context and content is:
> Educators often refer to the subject areas taught as content areas. For
> example, math, history etc. are taught to L2 students in a class that is
> more language accessible.
> We use sheltered language to to teach in the content areas.
> The context is the medium or the topic being taught. For example, teaching
> students in context about economics may involve a field trip to the bank,
> using realia such as fake checkbooks, balance sheets etc., to practice the
> realistic skills needed (math, communication,) in a way that mirrors the
> true experience of the intended goal (to familiarize students with the
> language and math they will need in order to open and maintain a checking
> account. )
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jennifer Morrow" <jmorrow@jcplin.org>
> To: "Multiple recipients of list" <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov>
> Sent: Monday, July 07, 2003 1:25 PM
> Subject: [NIFL-ESL:9114] Results from Context Question
>
>
> > Fellow Listers,
> > I recently posted a question to the list asking for context-based ESL
> lessons.  I received several great responses and ideas.  Thanks to all of
> you!  I wanted to summarize the responses for you.
> >
> > These ideas were posted in response...
> > -Ask students about their context and build lessons from that
> conversation.  (i.e. the grocery store)
> > -Involve the students and find a consensus about what context to use for
> lessons.
> > -Let the students plan their own lessons (from their own context.)
> > -Use the newspaper as a teaching tool and context.
> > -Use activities from http://daveseslcafe.com
> > -Use activities from http://www.onestopenglish.com
> > -Avoid teaching from textbooks for great lengths of time.
> > -Teach lessons based on student interest, background, and needs.
> > -Teach lessons in a creative way.
> > -Review the book Content-Based College ESL Instruction
> > -Use materials produced by the Tacoma Community House Volunteer Training
> Project.
> >
> > I found the One Stop English website particularly good and the lessons
> there easy to adapt for my one-on-one program.
> >
> > One thing kept repeating itself during this process.  I got the feeling
> that a lot of the postings and resources interchanged the terms 'context'
> and 'content.'  To me, they are very different things.  Then I started to
> think about it more deeply.  They can be confusing terms.  I think they
can
> be the same thing especially for college students, etc.  Their context and
> content can be the same: grammar, history, composition, etc.  Most of my
ESL
> students are here for reasons other than education.  With them, I view
> context and content as very different things: content may be vocabulary or
> conversation but their context may be their job, shopping in stores, their
> child's school, a doctor's office, or any number of contexts specific to
> them.  I guess I was thinking more of life situations as contexts, not
> school situations.  How would you define context and content?  Do you
think
> they are the same or different?  What contexts do your students learn
> content through?  I would appr!
> > eciate your input as I am still wrestling with the definitions myself.
> >
> > Jennifer Morrow
> > Johnson County Public Library
> > Adult Learning Center
> > (317) 738-4677
> > jmorrow@jcplin.org
> >
>



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