Event

Language vs. Learning

Saturday, July 10th, 2021, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Speaker: Jana Moore (Parkside Middle Cambridge International School)

Is my student struggling because of language, or because of their disability? In classrooms today there are a growing number of students learning a language, who also have a learning disability. As teachers integrate these students into their classrooms, questions arise concerning whether what the student needs is related to language or learning disability. The source of struggle for students greatly determines how we as teachers frame the guidance provided. A struggling reader should receive a different set of strategies dependent upon whether the complication is due to their learning disability or language learning. The two are not the same (Spear-Swerling, 2006).

Additionally, the culture of the student may also cause him or her to react to an assignment differently from what the teacher expects. With dual needs students, either or any of those issues may be at play, and we, as teachers, need to learn the keys to help them unlock their own success.

I explore the difference between language processing and cognitive differences when viewing struggling students. Drawing from research and classroom anecdotes, learn about identifying the type of difficulties occurring in the class, along with keys for helping students open doors for success (Hamayan, Marier, Sanchez-Lopez, Damico, 2013). The audience can identify types of complications their students have had in the classroom, and keys to overcoming those obstacles. I address teacher collaboration and the importance of learning from each other's strengths, whether that be language learning or special education, in order to help our students.

Bio: Jana Moore, Ph.D. is the ESOL department chair at Parkside Middle Cambridge International School in Virginia, USA, and currently serves as the Virginia TESOL (VATESOL) President. She has taught in Japan as well as the United States. She specializes in closing the achievement gap for vulnerable learners in language acquisition.

Organization: Nagano Chapter (formerly the Shinshu Chapter) of the Japan Association for Language Teaching (Nagano JALT)

Cost: free

Venue: Online ()

Location: Online, Online Events, Online Event

Contact Nagano JALT

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