Learning gives us the keys to acquire new skills, to sharpen our innate abilities, to gain a better understanding of the world and ourselves, to better our circumstances, and to render ourselves more resistant to oppression.
I believe the best learning environment is a classroom in which students feel safe and valued and free to express themselves. If students don’t feel safe, they will have an impediment to learning. Students are motivated when they have an active role in their learning, which is fostered by a learner-centered classroom and engagement in activities such as role plays, projects, discussions, debates, and critical thinking exercises. In my experience, learning happens when information is contextualized and students make connections between the information and their own experiences – more so than when students are expected to listen to lectures and memorize information.
I believe that mistakes are another place where learning happens. If students feel inclined to embrace mistakes rather than feel shamed by them, I feel that this can be a powerful tool in gaining confidence and moving from “not yet” toward “I’ve got it.”
Learning also happens outside the classroom. ESL students who engage in English-language interactions with members of their community have an opportunity to apply what they have practiced in the classroom in a real-world context.
While every individual is unique and has different strengths and experiences, learning should be accessible to all. Students should be provided with content-rich, comprehensible information, and be provided an opportunity to demonstrate their understanding.