Blog # 7
The most helpful feedback has always been a balance of positive and corrective notations. I do remember some teachers that never said anything nice about students but only emphasized the bad. As teachers we have a responsibility to provide a positive productive environment where children are not just able to but anxious, to develop their education and social skills to become productive members of society. I do not agree with the cheerleader approach; we all need to hear the facts. Polite will take you far.
They need both for a proper analysis of an essay if any sort of rewrite is expected. The essay has to have both to be effective so everyone needs assistance in these areas when learning writing. The L2 may need other types of interactions and accommodations but ultimately if they are on the level, the instruction is appropriate.
As a L2 teacher in secondary school I need to be aware of demographics and student background. Writing is very personal act influenced by culture as well as life experience, especially the choice of topics. Many if not all, of my kids have experienced lives that you and I pray never happen to us or anyone we know. I put a lot of effort into any feedback for these students, my goal is to get them what they need to succeed while showing the kindness and humanity they have so desperately need.
Peer feedback is not something I seek out is my first thought. My schooling was in a different time when we did not put any value on this type of experience. I think that western culture has always prized individualism and group work was a way for some members to take advantage of others. Peer feedback was an opportunity for someone to show off. Things are different now, trends in education have swung to the other side of the topic. My class does quite a bit of group work, at the earlier levels of L2 mostly I am part of the groups, but it works. Some of the ethnic groups I have like is better than others, as with anything in these early ESL classes I go with what works.
