Identity Comparsion

Your Identity:
-American
-Athlete
-Outgoing
-Supportive
-Catholic
-Irish

ELL/Your Identity:
-Smc student
-Female
-Hard worker
-Open to new ideas

ELL Identity:
-Japanese
-English learner
-Artist
-Shy
-independent

WiDA Level for Maaya

         Having lunch with Maaya for the past few weeks I have gotten to know her a little bit better each time. Often times, it is difficult to get answers from Maaya because she is still working on her english, and I can tell it takes her some time to process my question, and then for her to process her answer. Different from the rest of the students in my class, they are directly tutoring their students and with Maaya, Amanda and I have lunch with her so therefore I am only able to critique her WIDA level on her speaking. 

        After viewing the WIDA chart, Amanda and I concluded that Maaya would fall under a level 4 of speaking. Maaya is able to speak in sentences, however, it is clear that it takes her sometime to think of full sentences before she speaks. Although I do not see her school work, from messages exchanged it is also clear that her speaking is much better than her writing, perhaps it is because she is hearing herself speak and she knows when she is making sense. However, Maaya's speaking is becoming more clear and when Amanda and I share stories or talk about things to do in Burlington we try to make it clear and give her connections. For example, when talking about our hockey games she asked where it is we play, we told her Cairns Arena in South Burlington. She gave us a shaky nod, implying she was unclear of what we were saying. Therefore, we made the connection with the University Mall, the mall where Maaya has been to many times before, once we told her our rink was right near by it was clear she understood and became much more interested in our hockey games. We invited Maaya to our game again this weekend, we even discussed making possible dinner one night within the next few weeks. 

Maaya is ready for Halloween!

      For the second lunch date with Maaya we talked about what we had done over the long weekend, and our plans for halloween. Like me, Maaya spent the two days off relaxing and enjoying some free time. We began talking about halloween and our different ideas for costumes, at the time I wasn't sure what I was dressing up as so we had been giving each other different ideas. Maaya explained to me she was going to be a teenage mutant ninja turtle, Ralph who is the "red" one. I wasn't surprised at her choice to be a ninja turtle due to her teenage mutant ninja turtle back pack. When Amanda and I asked what she had planned for halloween she said her and her friends are going to have a party and she invited Amanda and I to her party. I was very happy that Maaya invited us to party because it was reassuring that she was enjoying her lunch dates with us just as much as we were with her. While Maaya is going to be a ninja turtle I chose to be a lifeguard.


             

First Lunch with Maaya

I have had the pleasure of grabbing lunch with Maaya, and english language learner here at St. Mike's. She is from Japan and is currently a sophomore at St. Mike's. Maaya is still learning the english language, so sometimes it may be challenging for us to understand each other, but she still does her best. When I asked Maaya what her favorite part of St. Mike's was, she explained that it was the professors. She says how helpful they truly are and they are making her experience and transition smoother and more comfortable. After concluding my first lunch date with Maaya I asked if she would like to make this a weekly activity. She was ecstatic, and I could tell by her facial expressions what it meant to have a domestic student invite her to lunch.

About Me

My name is Katherine O'Brien, I am 21-years-old from Sandwich, Massachusetts. I am the youngest of four, with two brothers and one sister. I have one brother-in-law and the worlds cutest nephew! He is eight months old. I am currently a junior at Saint Michael's College and I am majoring in Media Studies, Journalism, and Digital Arts, with an Education minor. I chose to minor in education after my first semester at St. Mike's. I really enjoy the media major however, I wasn't entirely sure where I would like to go with the major and I thought that working in a school system would be really fun, and maybe not necessarily be a teacher. Aside from academics I am member of the Women's Ice Hockey team on campus, hockey has been a big part of my life for as long as I can remember. 

^ That is me on the left!