March 21, 2012

Today, Ms. Austin assigned me to work with the group of book 2. I was unease because I never worked with this group before. I didn’t even know the people in the group. The students I met in the group were Francisco, Veronica, and Marie. I know there were a few more people in the group, but I couldn’t remember their names.   The lesson today consisted of a lot of reading and speaking. I didn’t know where to start because I didn’t know levels of the group. I did know they all spoke Spanish. Even though this group all speaks Spanish, they don’t try to use Spanish if they don’t know the word like some of the other people did in the book 3. This group a little bit more apprehensive about speaking. Francisco was very nervous. He didn’t want to speak loud. His voice was shaky.  Anybody coming over could just feel the nervousness. I could relate. It actually put me at ease to see they were nervous. I know that nervousness they felt. I feel that when I try to speak Spanish. I feel that nervousness because I don’t know if I’m pronouncing the words.  I decided to tell them I understand in Spanish. I said, “Yo entiendo mas espanol mas or menos yo hablo.”  I was trying to tell them I understand more Spanish than I speak. They chuckled a little. It could have been because they realized that I understood everything they had been saying in Spanish. It also could have been because I may have said it wrong.  After that I had to leave.  I was unease to go to a new group, but this project is about helping the students learn English. I can’t just stay with one group. I have to willing go outside my comfort zone. In regards to this project, today’s experience made me more open to trying to speak Spanish. I realize that I’m not alone in my feelings.  Spanish speakers experience nervousness when speaking a different language from their native tongue.  It brings me comfort and strength that I am not alone.