Supporting Language Development Through Social ......Sociocultural language theory, or SCT, aligns with how you learned to speak your first language: through social interactions in

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Supporting Language Development Through

Social Interactions

Transcripts

Chapter 1: What is Sociocultural Language Theory?

Definition

Transcript:

Regardless of the grade level or content area you teach, you will have students in your class who are learning English as a second or even third language. As these students learn a new language, your role as a teacher isn’t to teach English as an isolated content area. Rather, you should approach teaching English in a manner that is similar to how you most likely learned it: socially.

There are two major perspectives on the way languages are learned: cognitive and social. From a cognitive perspective, teaching language is about grammatical accuracy. One way to accomplish this is to drill and practice the structure and rules of English.

From a social perspective, teaching and learning language operates from three major principles: (no audio, see screenshot above).

Sociocultural language theory, or SCT, aligns with how you learned to speak your first language: through social interactions in meaningful and authentic settings (Lightbown & Spada, 2013; Masuda & Arnett, 2015; Vygotsky, 1978).

In this module, you will learn about SCT and how it supports language development - especially for emerging bilingual students (Firth & Wagner, 1997; Lightbown & Spada, 2013; Masuda & Arnett, 2015; Vygotsky, 1978).

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Why SCT?

Transcript:

Applying sociocultural language theory in the classroom leverages the connections between a student’s home, community, culture, and language (Pérez, 2004; Vygotsky, 1978). When students are part of a classroom that incorporates these connections, emerging bilingual students can increase their reading, writing, speaking, and problem-solving skills (Razfar, Licón Khisty, & Chval, 2011).

SCT in the Classroom

Four Actions

Transcript:

Let’s note that SCT is not necessarily a strategy or a group of strategies that you use in the classroom. Rather, it’s a way of thinking about your teaching.

You will now learn about four actions for applying sociocultural language theory in the classroom.

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Use Language as a Tool

Transcript:

Emerging bilingual students learn better when they engage in authentic conversations that include both academic and social language.

Social language includes the words, phrases, and ways of speaking that we use to communicate informally with one another. Academic language includes the content-specific vocabulary and syntax that students need in different subject areas. In order to use language as a tool for learning, students need to be given opportunities to use both. Students use language as they engage with academic content, rather than studying usage rules and vocabulary in a vacuum (Lantolf, 2010; Lantolf & Thorne, 2006).

If you’d like to see an example, click “Learn More”. Otherwise click “Proceed”.

Example

Student Action

Teacher Action

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Benefit

Use Student Background Knowledge

Transcript:

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It is important to acknowledge and value the prior knowledge and experiences of your students and understand that learning occurs in a cultural context (Lantolf & Thorne, 2000; Vygotsky, 1978). Students’ background knowledge can then be used to drive instruction. If students are able to use their own life experiences when learning, they are better able to attach familiar terms and ideas to new vocabulary and concepts in English (Simeon, 2016).

Example

Teacher Action

Student Action

Benefit

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Make Learning Student-Directed

Transcript:

When students participate in meaningful social and academic dialogue with their teacher and peers, they learn more than when they are simply being lectured to (Lightbown & Spada, 2013; Vygotsky, 1978). Collaboration also values students as content experts because the teacher steps into the role of facilitator rather than dispenser of knowledge (Razfar et al., 2011).

Example

Student Action

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Teacher Action

Benefit

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Ensure Learning is Meaningful

Transcript:

When a student is learning an unfamiliar language but the task is personally meaningful, he will be more

motivated to complete it and it will positively impact his language acquisition (Eun & Lim, 2009). In addition,

when students participate in learning activities that are personally meaningful, they are able to take the

language they learn and apply it across different contexts (Kozulin, 2003). A teacher should never assume that

something is meaningful to a student. Instead, he or she should use a variety of methods to learn about

student interests.

Example

Teacher Action

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Student Action

Benefit

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Conclusion

Transcript:

Remember, sociocultural language theory is not a set of strategies. It’s a way of teaching.

Take a moment to watch high school French teacher William Kvot explain the power of creating an environment that values learning and language.

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Video

Transcript:

This whole idea of kids, you know, feeling safe and feeling comfortable in your classroom. Asking questions

and just being curious goes to…goes back to the first week of class. And even the first day. You know, if this is

something that you haven’t set up within the first week, it’s really hard to do it later down the road.

I usually try to have the kids speak as much as I can in the classroom with each other. Rather than just sitting

quietly and conjugating verbs and doing vocab drills all the time. I want them to be the ones practicing and

speaking the language. Rather than me and them listening.

You know, they can use the language in a certain context and it’s meaningful. And so ultimately when they use the language in a certain context, then they know immediately well if I was going to go outside of the classroom, this is something that I could use…in this like…context. For instance, when we do the food unit, the kids are like well, if I was going to go to this café or this restaurant, then ultimately I could order food or I could ask for this or for that. And so when they see a purpose and when they see words and sentences and expressions that they can take outside and use immediately in their daily life, you can see them more engaged.

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Supporting Language Development Through Social ......Sociocultural language theory, or SCT, aligns with how you learned to speak your first language: through social interactions in