A Little Background

Hello, my name is Jenna Galatro. I am currently a junior, and a Family and Child Studies major at Montclair State University. I am working towards my degree in education grades K-5. Additionally, I will obtain certification in English for grades 6-8, and ESL grades K-12. I plan on graduating in May 2012.

Despite a busy, chaotic, and challenging semester, I decided for my Assignment in Principles of Second Language Learning to tutor an ESL student at Montclair State. When given the choice to either observe a classroom setting for two sessions, or tutor an actual ESL student, I opted to challenge myself to tutor a lovely student named Makia.

My original goal, inspiration, and vision for tutoring Makia was not only giving back and assisting a student in need, but additionally hoping to apply many of the concepts I am learning in my linguistics classes to my real-life encounters with Makia.

So far, this experience has proven to be one of the best opportunities I have challenged myself to do at Montclair State. I am thankful for this opportunity to help Makia with her pronunciation, and confidence as a speaker of English.

Being a native speaker of English, you take for granted the simplest things that second language learners struggle the most with and are frustrated by greatly. Although Makia is extremely grateful and constantly reminds me how happy she is to work with me, I like to think that I'm the lucky one for having found someone that I can not only help boost her confidence in English as a 2nd Language, but she can help me gain confidence in teaching this wonderful language in the near future!

This is the first step to a great journey that lies ahead!