LEP and ESL Students
Instruction for Limited English Proficiency (LEP) and English as
a Second Language students (ESL) can easily incorporate a variety
of technology supports, such as audio or video materials on cassettes,
disksor even broadcast across the Internetfor modeling
and practice. Curriculum software, simulations, and tutorials are
also available in a range of developmental levels to provide primary
or supplementary instruction in language acquisition. Many of these
tools take advantage of the full complement of visual and aural
presentation possible with modern multimedia computers. The
National
Center for ESL Literacy Education provides further information
and resources.
Many teachers use the Internet to find learning resources and supplemental
information; however, according to the Children's Partnership, approximately 87 percent of Internet
content is written in English. That leaves an estimated 32 million
people in America underserved.
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Translation services provide one solution to the problem. Free online
services such as Free Translation by Transparent Language and
Altavista's
BabelFish provide teachers and students with text and Web
page translation. Multilingual search engines such as
AltaVista
and Euroseek
can be used with online translation services to locate curriculum
resources in other languages.
Babylon is
a free computer dictionary that works with any other text-integrated
program. It allows second language students to select any word and
get on-screen definition and translation. There are also commercial
translation services available for schools to produce commonly used
forms in various languages. An online virtual collaboration project
called I*EARN, or the
International
Education and Resource Network allows U.S. teachers to work with foreign
teachers to enhance the learning opportunities for their ESL students.
Opening New Doors
Spanish at Fulton for Everyone (SAFFE) was developed
in Fulton, Kentucky, when a new industry opened in the area,
drawing Spanish-speaking migrant workers and their children.
Although initially challenging for teachers and students,
the Spanish teacher and district technology coordinator
combined forces to develop a districtwide program that
teaches English-speaking children to learn Spanish while
the Spanish-speaking children learn English. Additionally,
advanced high school Spanish students help the Spanish-speaking
children communicate with their teachers and classmates
and even teaches Spanish lessons to elementary students.
Technology plays a vital role in the program, as it provides
a means for delivering and reviewing lesson activities.
The high school students are also encouraged to incorporate
cultural information from the Internet into their work and
use the software package JumpStart, a multimedia
program organized around interactive games and puzzles that
supports the Spanish curriculum.
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