Rachel Roloff

T&L 333
Reflection for Comparisons and Beliefs

After creating the Venn Diagram, the biggest similarity was communication. Everyone
brought up how communicating with others is a huge part of what is language and why you
would learn a second language. Also, although everyone agreed that parts of language are
important, only myself and the book knew exactly what those different parts are. When I had
asked my ELL students what are components of language they were very confused and only had
the response of grammar and vocabulary. This shows that although these students learned
English and Arabic, they didnt know exactly what different parts of language are. I too, without
taking ELL classes would have no idea what different parts of language arebecause I never
had to learn that. It isnt a necessary thing to proceed through life to know exactly what the
different parts of language are used, but it creates an appreciation for language. Also, if you are
an ELL student it may help you to understand another countries language and why it is the way it
is.
The biggest difference with the three sources was what the focused on. Wrights book,
Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners: Research, Theory, Policy and Practice
focuses on terminology and why language is the way it is. Also, it focuses on the different
changes of psychologists on their understanding of learning a language. My ELL students
focused a lot of communication. That is what they cared about the most. This I believe is because
that is what they focus on here in America. They focus on communicating with peers and their
professorswhether it is through writing or speaking this is what they worry about the most.
Whether or not their grammar is perfect and whether or not people can understand their point of
view and context. They didnt use this terminology though and focused on communication, they
didnt describe the importance of explaining someones context in what they say or to learn more
about someones culture (personal communication, September 20, 2017). For me, I focused a lot
of individuality of someone and trying to communicate. This, I believe, is the English major in
me. I care a lot about making sure I understand what my students are trying to say and why. Its
interesting how different everyones focus is on Language, even though we all do it. No matter
what language we speak first, or how many languages we know, we are all have the same focus
of communicating. Even if we all care about communicating for a different reason.

My citations on my Venn Diagram are not accurate APA format because I didnt have enough
space to fill that in. Here is what my correct citation would look like if I had enough room
(Wright, 2010, 28).
 References

Wright, W. E. (2010). Foundations for Teaching English Language Learners: Research, Theory,
Policy, and Practice. Philadelphia: Caslon, Inc.