As I waited for my first classroom observation to begin, I marveled at how well the students were intermingling. From my count, they hailed from at least three different continents. Yet, as they sat there, they were conversing in English as freely as I would talk with a friend. As advanced level students, their bond was their second language, and it was strong.
Unbeknownst to me, I had picked to observe the first day of presentations. The instructor initiated the class with some easy conversation and light jokes. It seemed to put the students at ease, as the anxiety in the room was almost palpable. The class's assignment was to present a background of their life, while also explaining their arrival in America. I believe the time limit was ten minutes.
While the students could use notecards for reference, they were encouraged to create a picture PowerPoint to cue them visually. Plus, it made the presentations more entertaining. We viewed the work of about half the class, and I was astounded by how well they spoke English. There were sporadic errors, but none were too grievous.
I spoke with the teacher afterwards, Ryan I believe his name was. He presented me with the project rubric and explain the categories. As higher-level students, he truly nitpicked their speeches, as I could see on the papers. He picked up errors that had flown right over my head. Of course, his grammar ear is much more finely-tuned than my own. All in all, it was a joy to watch and I learned a great deal.
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