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Re: first half: I agree, but these are esl students, I'm dealing with not just teaching coding (which they are amazing at once they get the underlying fundament

Re: first half: I agree, but these are esl students, I'm dealing with not just teaching coding (which they are amazing at once they get the underlying fundamentals), but also the English language around it (code block, function, variable, heck even start function and move Sprite). Re:second half: if live to teach them Java, but while the few advanced students are getting there, I need to find more real world applicable examples. Hence I'm looking more towards Lego mind storm or MakerBot. I do agree with you though, I just need something in between. (Maybe I worded my post wrong, I'm sorry if that's the case).

mimixco 7y ago
Dear God, please don't teach them Java! JavaScript (technically called ECMAScript but no one uses that term in casual conversation) is a very different language and unrelated to Java despite the similar name. As far as ESL, all popular programming languages are based on English-language statements so the kids will have to deal with that regardless. Just explain to them what the language keywords mean in their own language.
- marak830 7y ago
  Re: teaching in their own language: no. The best way to teach a new language is to immerse the student in that language, you don't explain unknown words in their language, you build their language knowledge to be able to learn the new words. Re:second part: did the above say JavaScript? I read as Java haha. Atm my path is scratch - unknown - HTML/unity/(their path choice)
  - mimixco 7y ago
    It's going to be hard if you don't explain to someone who speaks Spanish that 10 PRINT "HOLA" is imprimir. You're not teaching conversational English (where I would totally agree with you). This is programming. The words used in statements should be immediately understood in one's native language. If they aren't, then translate them, I say. BTW, Unity is a development environment that supports several programming languages -- three, I think. JavaScript is one of them. But Unity also has a lot of overhead in that you must understand 3D rendering, animation timelines, etc. I would not recommend sending a beginning programmer there. What's the harm in helping students develop a simple web page with some kind of interactivity? That's useful, immediately gratifying, and doesn't require learning any additional frameworks or design tools.
    - marak830 7y ago
      Actually I do teach English, we have a core class for more traditional teaching then project courses where we use English in an active environment (programming, cooking etc). We looked into front end, and while a few students enjoyed it, the majority weren't interested enough. That's why we're looking into MakerBots and such to give them a more physical object to code.

mimixco 7y ago

Dear God, please don't teach them Java! JavaScript (technically called ECMAScript but no one uses that term in casual conversation) is a very different language and unrelated to Java despite the similar name. As far as ESL, all popular programming languages are based on English-language statements so the kids will have to deal with that regardless. Just explain to them what the language keywords mean in their own language.

marak830 7y ago
Re: teaching in their own language: no. The best way to teach a new language is to immerse the student in that language, you don't explain unknown words in their language, you build their language knowledge to be able to learn the new words. Re:second part: did the above say JavaScript? I read as Java haha. Atm my path is scratch - unknown - HTML/unity/(their path choice)
- mimixco 7y ago
  It's going to be hard if you don't explain to someone who speaks Spanish that 10 PRINT "HOLA" is imprimir. You're not teaching conversational English (where I would totally agree with you). This is programming. The words used in statements should be immediately understood in one's native language. If they aren't, then translate them, I say. BTW, Unity is a development environment that supports several programming languages -- three, I think. JavaScript is one of them. But Unity also has a lot of overhead in that you must understand 3D rendering, animation timelines, etc. I would not recommend sending a beginning programmer there. What's the harm in helping students develop a simple web page with some kind of interactivity? That's useful, immediately gratifying, and doesn't require learning any additional frameworks or design tools.
  - marak830 7y ago
    Actually I do teach English, we have a core class for more traditional teaching then project courses where we use English in an active environment (programming, cooking etc). We looked into front end, and while a few students enjoyed it, the majority weren't interested enough. That's why we're looking into MakerBots and such to give them a more physical object to code.