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How has Jorge Luis Romero’s teaching journey from Colombia to the United States shaped his approach to education?
Answer: Jorge Luis Romero began teaching English in Colombia and later moved to the United States, where he teaches content in both English and Spanish. He said the experience has strengthened his understanding of the cultural dimension of language education.
How does Romero integrate language and culture into his classroom?
Answer: Romero considers students’ cultural backgrounds and language skills while planning lessons. He focuses on both subject content and academic language while creating an environment where students feel safe and comfortable participating.
Why are language and culture closely connected in bilingual education?
Answer: Romero said language and culture go hand in hand. While vocabulary and grammar teach the structure of a language, cultural understanding helps students understand communication and connect with others.
What is the biggest challenge faced by emerging bilingual students?
Answer: Romero identified confidence as a major challenge. Students may understand an answer but struggle to express their ideas in English. Teachers can support them by creating a safe environment, encouraging participation and treating their first language as a strength.
What does the term “emerging bilingual” mean?
Answer: Romero explained that emerging bilingual students have a home language other than English and are learning English while continuing to use their first language. He noted that the term applies to students from a range of language backgrounds, not only Spanish-speaking students.
What classroom strategies can teachers use to support emerging bilingual students?
Answer: Romero highlighted pre-teaching vocabulary, using sentence stems, providing visuals such as pictures, anchor charts and videos, and offering comprehensible input. These approaches can help students understand lessons and participate more confidently.
How can teachers make bilingual students feel more confident and included?
Answer: Romero said teachers should create a classroom where students feel safe making mistakes. Valuing their home language and culture can help students become more confident, included and willing to participate.
What changes are needed to prepare students for a multilingual and multicultural world?
Answer: Romero said bilingualism and multilingualism should be viewed as strengths. He called for classrooms that recognise different languages and cultures and prepare students not only for tests, but also for communication, work and life in a global environment.
What have Romero’s students taught him about bilingual education?
Answer: Romero said his students have shown him that bilingual learners can achieve strong levels of English proficiency. They have also deepened his appreciation of Hispanic cultures and taught him the importance of patience, support and building trusting relationships with students.
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