English as a Second Language to the Learners Essay - 1

English as a Second Language to the Learners - Essay Example Two specific programs on ESL are arranged at schools namely ‘ESL targeted support program’, and ‘ESL new arrivals program’ through three phases and students at the end of the third phase are expected to ‘have extended their English language and literacy skills’ (NSW Department of Education and Training, 2004, p. 10). The program uses three modes -Direct, Collaborative, and Resource. The article helps one to use ESL scales in the assessment of the programs and undertaking necessary remedial measures. Further, the article helps the students and schools in the enrolment process of ESL programs. To sum up, this article is a pole star for students, teachers, and schools in Australia and New South Wales in ESL programs. Dr. Tina Sharpe (2004) elaborates on the specialties of ESL teachers and the article establishes a number of distinctions between a mainstream teacher and an ESL teacher. According to her, ESL teachers differ from other teachers in many ways as they have ‘the knowledge about the process of acquiring a second language’ (Sharpe, 2004, p.1). ESL teachers are aware of the learning environment of the students and they implement the target language with its cultural significance. ESL teachers provide opportunities to use language for a variety of purposes and work. Only a specialist teacher can employ the expertise regarding the process of acquiring a new language. An ESL teacher is different from a mainstream teacher, in the decisions about the topic content, resources, sequence of activities, modification of learning activities, identification of assessment opportunities and finally in evaluation and planning. To conclude, this article helps one to realize the significance o f specialized ESL teachers in transacting the language. Cummins (1996) deals with the language proficiency both in communicative skills and in an academic situation. Two misconceptions handicap students who seek to study ESL- first, the fear of incapability for logical thinking and second, the conversational skills are interpreted as overall proficiency.