John Dewey's Pedagogical Creed and ESL Education

John Dewey's Pedagogical Creed (1987) really resonated with me. Towards the beginning of the article, Dewey (1987) writes "I believe that education, therefore, is a process of living and not a preparation for future living" (77-80). I think this statement is particularly useful for language learning. Listening to people who have mastered languages, the continual theme is that the learner needs to enjoy the process of learning the language, and students needs to feel like their learning is needed for their present lives. Connected to this is the often heard story that effective language learners make their target language part of their normal lives, and learning the language is needed to effectively function in their normal lives. I think a teacher can help to create a more conducive environment for the conditions to be met. 

Dewey (1987) has a similar opinion when he says: "I believe that the school, as an institution, should simplify existing social life; should reduce it, as it were, to an embryonic form" (77-80). As ESL teachers, we want our students to be able to communicate with each other and the world through all methods of communication: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. We also recognize that we cannot just give our ELs regular native English speaking texts and other similar resources. We have ESL curriculum, and we operate in the zone of proximal development so that students can operate in social life.

It is unfortunate when ELs are given material that is way above their zone of proximal development, and they just passively listen to a teacher that talks for a long time above their level. Dewey (1987) also thinks this is unfortunate and thinks this "is the cause of a large part of the waste of time and strength in school work. The child is thrown into a passive, receptive or absorbing attitude" (77-80). Fortunately, we are learning from Dewey, and ESL education does a very good job at actively involving ELs.