Wong Chapter Four

"Those of us in the field of teaching English to speakers of other languages, who have been trained in Western universities, have a lot to learn from the non-Western sources of knowledge and intellectual traditions of our students."

I completely agree with Wong when she states this in the small section about Mao Zedong.  Many times, we as Americans, think that our ways of teaching and learning is superior to that of other ethnicities.  However, when many other cultures look at Americans, they often think of us as lazy and not hard working.  In many Asian countries, such as Japan and Korea, education is of utmost importance; while here in the United States, focus is placed on major exams such as the ACTs/SATs for high school students and college exams for those in higher education, education is focused on almost year-around for all students.  For students, school takes priority over things such as an active social life or personal free time, which here, in the United States, is highly valued.

While it definitely isn't to say that we should follow in the footsteps of other cultures and completely and wholly dedicate our lives to studying, I believe that Wong has a point when she says that we could learn a thing or two from students of other cultures.  In many cultures, it is unacceptable to not continue with an education after high school; many students must go on to achieve a college degree in order to have a successful career.  However, in the United States, college and even high school dropout rates are staggeringly high.  Even without a college degree or high school diploma in some cases, people are able to get jobs and make a decent living.  However, in other countries, a degree is a necessity.  

I don't keep meaning to bring Japan up, but in Japanese culture, they go back to school immediately if they cannot find a job within 3 months of graduating college.  By placing such an importance and value on education, Japanese students are focused on the task at hand and know what they have to do in order to be successful.  However, in American culture, we tend to be almost too laid-back with how we go about with our education and finding jobs.

By focusing more on the importance of education and where it can lead students, I think that it will be a valuable lesson for future students to understand just how important a proper education is; that it can get you to places where you might not be able to get to if you never graduated high school or college.

Wong Chapter Three

"A student's participation may be to present a partial solution for a problem.  The teacher can use a variety of assessment techniques as well as questioning techniques to help students work within their 'zone of proximal development,' and thus to change the nature and quality of their participation within the classroom.  Mistakes and partial solutions, then, do not represent failure as much as they represent opportunities for learning."

I completely agree with Wong when she states that participation is key when it comes to learning a second language.  Many times, teachers lecture the students, hoping that they will practice at home, when in fact, many students do not.  However, by engaging them in the classroom with class discussions, teachers will be able to see how their students are progressing and will also be able to help any students that may be struggling.

Another big problem that Wong addresses is the fact that many second language learners may be apprehensive when it comes to speaking aloud in class because they may fear sounding "dumb."  However, by having the teacher ask guiding questions, the students may find it easier to speak aloud in front of their peers and may also give them a boost when they are able to answer correctly.  This may go the other way, in the sense that if they are to answer incorrectly, they may be embarrassed, but the teacher could always encourage them by telling them that their effort shows that they are trying and learning.

By the time students begin to speak aloud in large class discussions, I think that many students will also feel comfortable speaking to each other in the second language that they are learning.  Small group discussions may be beneficial for those students who may be afraid to speak aloud in front of the teacher and the rest of the class; they will have the benefit of having a few students listen and then gaining confidence as they do so.  Participation plays such a huge role when it comes to learning a second language as it produces confidence and encourages active learning.