Learning Difficulty or Cultural Difference?

This action research study is about a young English
language learner who was labeled learning disabled.
I wanted to find out whether the use of a culturally
familiar teaching method, used by the mother in her
home, would allow this child to be able to learn
more easily. The research project took approximately
six weeks and included two interviews: one with a
child s mother and another with a Chinese EFL
teacher.
Following the interviews, I observed the mother
teaching vocabulary to her child, and then the
mother observed me. We then compared notes. As a
result of the study I came to the realization that
the rote learning strategy that was used by the
mother works well with this child in an elementary
level of schooling. Close communication with the
mother gave me a better understanding of the motives
intentions of an immigrant mother. This project gave
us an opportunity to learn from each other and use
this experience in our work.

Autorentext

Tatyana Fridman, MA in ESL: Received MA in teaching English as a Second Language from Hamline University, St. Paul, MN. Taught Russian language in the former Soviet Union and the United States. Currently teaches ESL in Minnetonka Public Schools.

Klappentext

This action research study is about a young English language learner who was labeled learning disabled. I wanted to find out whether the use of a culturally familiar teaching method, used by the mother in her home, would allow this child to be able to learn more easily. The research project took approximately six weeks and included two interviews: one with a child's mother and another with a Chinese EFL teacher.Following the interviews, I observed the mother teaching vocabulary to her child, and then the mother observed me. We then compared notes. As a result of the study I came to the realization that the rote learning strategy that was used by the mother works well with this child in an elementary level of schooling. Close communication with the mother gave me a better understanding of the motives intentions of an immigrant mother. This project gave us an opportunity to learn from each other and use this experience in our work.