The Future of Education

Effective communication relies on understanding and being understood, a challenge faced by newly enrolled high school students learning English.  These students must develop basic interpersonal communication skills (BICS) for everyday interactions and cognitive academic language proficiency (CALP) for academic success.  While BICS can take up to three years to develop, CALP may require four to ten years.  The integration of technology, such as the Reading Coach feature in Flip.com, offers personalized feedback and supports various proficiency levels, thus enhancing pronunciation practice and boosting confidence in speaking. This innovative tool helps students improve their read-aloud skills, contributing to overall language proficiency and public speaking capabilities.

Knowing another language is a great skill to have.  For some, it offers a way to comfortably explore the world and expand their appreciation of diverse cultures. For others, it is a critical necessity for survival, belonging, and self-esteem.  Therefore, the efficiency of the language acquisition process is crucial for these individuals.  Just as with any new skill, practice is essential for language learning.  So, what technology-integrated approach can we use to maximize our efforts and effectively learn a new language?

Keywords: read-aloud, technology, differentiation, language development

REFERENCES

[1] colorincolorado.org

[2] Peregoy, Suzanne F., Owen Boyle. “Reading, Writing, and Learning in ESL: A Resource Book for Teaching K-12 English Learners”, 7th Edition. Pearson Learning Solutions, 2015

[3] Graves, Michael F., Diane August, and Jeannette Mancilla-Martinez. “Teaching vocabulary to English language learners.” Teachers College Press, 2012.