I have just read over the suggestions for our journal...the third question appeals to me...

"3. What is your own experience of learning in an environment where the dominant language was not your home language? How did you feel? What strategies did you use to succeed in the new environment?"

I am an English speaker - but when I started secondary school I moved to Ireland.  Now Ireland has two official languages - Irish and English.  Therefore the "dominant language" in my school was English...however for me it was English with a thick Cork accent and strange unknown phrases.  It was like a different language to me.

As I type I remember my Geography class, I was sitting by myself and everyone was chatting waiting for the teacher to come - it was just a blur of noise to me.  Then a boy appeared next to me.  He introduced himself as Sean...and then he started talking...I couldn't keep up and just answered "What?" - I did this twice then just found myself nodding and agreeing with him.  Even though I couldn't understand what he was saying!  I felt that it would be rude to keep demonstrating that I didn't understand.
Now, I see this a lot with the children I work with - I say something and they nod but do the opposite. Or in class when the teacher is looking for thumbs up - they do this but later it appears they really didn't know.  They don't want to admit that they don't understand...or perhaps like me they feel it is rude or pointless as they perhaps feel it can't be explained to them.

That day in Ireland I was delighted to have someone try to talk to me, but I was so disappointed in myself for not being able to understand.  Even though we spoke the same language - he could have been speaking Polish or Arabic.

And now with these thoughts in my head I plan to have a rumage around the internet to see what I can find out about Irish policies regarding EAL children.

My first entry - just a test to see if it works.
Just back from our first input of the module - and just wondering how this will look.  

I was a little disappointed as I had gone and bought a notebook so I could write down my thoughts at any time - but perhaps I can do this via my phone?  Technology at it's best!