As a faculty member, one of the unique challenges is introducing science in the ESL classroom. A number of issues that have to be carefully considered: the source material and its level of English, the final assignment form/outcome, and teacher expectation. In addition, I would like to add student motivation toward the subject matter to the above list; however, the reality often indicates that most students have little knowledge of the subject area, although many show a keen desire to learn. Perhaps this last element represents enough for a good beginning.
As you might have already guessed, bird behavior remains one of my favorite evolving science projects in class. This semester our intermediate English speaking/listening class is focusing on material presented in one of the most intriguing nature series on birds: the BBC video production called The Life of Birds, hosted by David Attenborough. This collection of ten episodes covers a variety of topics ranging from flight, eating habits, songs, mating, parenthood, and adaptability of these wonderful creatures. The last episode contains some specific examples of birds from Japan and their urban home. In the series itself, David Attenborough presents behavioral details as an enthusiastic but non-intrusive admirer that shouldn’t frighten the budding scientist in all of us. However, narrator dialogue isn’t overwhelming or intrusive rather the main cast (birds) fly forward in an amazing visual display.
Easier said than done: students, materials, and language
The next obstacle is organizing this 24 member class around this material. At first, it was decided that the students would be divided into groups to correspond to the ten video episodes and give presentations on what they learned. Having also learned about successful presentation techniques in class, students were responsible for dividing their episode material with their group members, culminating into an informative presentation on a specific aspect of bird behavior: all in English. However, students would be limited to showing only one short scene from the video itself for emphasis. This was decided to avoid the video giving the presentation instead of the more important student.
Good Morning everyone, I would like to present…
How this language project eventually turns out will remain a mystery until the students give their presentations next month.
In the meantime, I look forward to a presentation that is informative, interesting, and science-related. Along the way, I hope the students will be able to gain an appreciation for our nearby cousins: the birds.
For those who have the time and similar interest, exploring your nearby surroundings (the campus, for example) and the birds that inhabit the area also provide great material for classroom discussion. The Internet offers many possibilities including endangered species in Japan and some background information on the species presented in the above BBC production.
Joe Blake
Kansai Gaidai University