Fillmore And Snow's Article 'Teacher As A Communicator'

Three points that captured my attention while reading Fillmore and Snow’s article are The change the educational system is experiencing, Teacher as a Communicator and Teacher as an Evaluator.

In the beginning Fillmore and Snow’s article on “What Teachers need to know About Language” talks about the important role teachers are taking in today's modern education in the United States. The authors begin with explaining the national change the educational system is experiencing. Currently, an increasing number of children from immigrant families are entering U.S. schools. These children are entering school speaking little or no English at all, making it difficult for them to adjust to school. The authors explain “The U.S. teaching force is not well equipped to help these children and those who speak vernacular dialects of English adjust to school and learn joyfully.” (Fillmore & Snow, pg. 3.) I agree that it is substantial for teachers to be prepared and to continue on with ongoing training in order to be able to help students with their language development and learning. It was interesting to read that teachers

Teachers need to learn how to structure their own language in order to connect with students in the classroom. The understanding of linguistic patterns can help teachers understand that there is no greater value from one culture to another. “Without such an understanding, teachers sometimes assume that there is something wrong with students whose ways of using language are not what they expect.” (Fillmore & Snow, pg. 5.) By teachers not being accepting of their students’ way of speaking, it could impair their confidence in learning how to properly speak English. As a child, often time I came across teachers who would grow frustrated with the way I spoke English. Because of their judgment, I didn't feel comfortable practicing my