Speaking to a bilingual friend who is in her early twenties, I asked her why she thought is was important for her to be bilingual. Her answer was... "It not only introduces me to other cultures I might otherwise not learn about, but it has been an important bonus in job searching for me; not to mention the great advantages I have when I travel."
I am surprised to see the lack of interest in the community about having bilingual citizens. I always tell my students: you are not competing with the guy next door; you are competing with the guy in India, South America, Asia, or Europe. So, why we are not pushing for bilingual education as parents? Why do we wait till our children are in high school for them to take the two years required to graduate? The earlier a child is introduced to another language the better. The high school years can build on the earlier exposure allowing for practice and further learning instead of beginning from scratch in their teens. As parents we need to expose our children at an early age to languages other than their native tongue. The advantages are tremendous and our children will be the ones who benefit from knowing another language.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Stages of Learning a New Language
There are 5 Stages in the learning of a second language. In my next few blogs I will expand on these stages so you can understand each one. Of course there will be slight variations in each students way of learning. These are just some guidelines for you to understand the acquisition of a second language and its stages. Also please note that the length of time each student spends on a particular stage may vary.
Stage 1: Pre-Production (also known as the Silent Stage)
During this period the student is mainly silent. This does not mean they do not parrot the words, or have the ability repeat everything you say, only that they are learning and storing the vocabulary. Students may have up to a 500 word vocabulary during this stage but they are not yet speaking the new language.
The student listens attentively, responds to visuals and pictures, and can understand and duplicate gestures. During this stage the teacher focuses on building vocabulary. Much repetition is necessary at this stage.
A great benefit of this stage would be a buddy or friend with whom to practice or to speak with to encourage them to listen to and practice the vocabulary they are storing.
True Story
A friend of mine spoke two languages to her daughter after her birth, Spanish and English. When her daughter was one and a half years old she was concerned because she didn't seem to be speaking as much as she most babies at this age and just pointed at things instead of asking for them with words. She spoke with her pediatrician about her concerns. The doctor explained to her that her baby was just listening and learning and as long as there were no physical problems (which there were not) then she should just be patient and her daughter would speak when she was ready. A few months later the little girl started speaking in complete sentences in both languages! It was amazing to her mom who was expecting her to say a word here or there. This is a good example of the way a child learns to speak a language.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Teaching and Learning at the Same Time
Having a great inward disposition helps tremendously towards learning, even more so than outward circumstances. We think about learning at times as being in a certain place or in a certain atmosphere, yet we limit ourselves when we do that. Each and every day brings us a new experience and so many different ways to learn, if we just take the opportunities that arise. We can practice language skills in so many different ways.
I have a friend who has been teaching his 5 year old son to speak Spanish. He began about a year ago. Now, you may think that is because he can speak Spanish himself, but he can not. He is learning Spanish along with his son. He takes the time to look up certain words and phrases and then uses them with his son throughout the day. In the kitchen he may ask his son what he would like to drink. "Que quieres tomar?" At bed time he may ask his son if he wants to read a book. "Quieres leer un libro?" (he also reads books in Spanish to him) and then he teaches his son to respond in Spanish. Instead of just one word answers, he teaches him how to respond in the full sentence. So instead of just answering milk, or "leche" he tells his son to say "Yo quiero leche."
I spent one afternoon just recently in their home with them and was amazed at how much Spanish the little boy had picked up. I was also amazed at how much the Dad had learned since he began his experiment to see if he could teach and learn at the same time, and the best part of all was that his wife and their daughter who is 8 years old have both picked up so much Spanish just from listening to the father speak to his son, that they both are answering questions and asking questions in Spanish now too. It really is amazing how much we can learn if we take each opportunity to do so.
I have a friend who has been teaching his 5 year old son to speak Spanish. He began about a year ago. Now, you may think that is because he can speak Spanish himself, but he can not. He is learning Spanish along with his son. He takes the time to look up certain words and phrases and then uses them with his son throughout the day. In the kitchen he may ask his son what he would like to drink. "Que quieres tomar?" At bed time he may ask his son if he wants to read a book. "Quieres leer un libro?" (he also reads books in Spanish to him) and then he teaches his son to respond in Spanish. Instead of just one word answers, he teaches him how to respond in the full sentence. So instead of just answering milk, or "leche" he tells his son to say "Yo quiero leche."
I spent one afternoon just recently in their home with them and was amazed at how much Spanish the little boy had picked up. I was also amazed at how much the Dad had learned since he began his experiment to see if he could teach and learn at the same time, and the best part of all was that his wife and their daughter who is 8 years old have both picked up so much Spanish just from listening to the father speak to his son, that they both are answering questions and asking questions in Spanish now too. It really is amazing how much we can learn if we take each opportunity to do so.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Language is Culture in Motion
Language can be used as a tool for overcoming powerlessness. It can also be a social gift. If we are committed to helping children learn to communicate with each other they will grow to become adults adept at negotiating peace, goodwill, and learn to be people who will care for the survival of our globe as a whole. Learning to speak another's language can mean reaching out to others across cultural and linguistic boundaries. Language is more than just a system to be explained, it is one of the most important links to the world and its people. Language is not only culture in motion, it is also the beauty of sharing. People interacting with people makes for a respectful human community allowed to see life through each others eyes.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Why do we have so many students failing or struggling with their first Spanish class?
I taught Spanish 1 in a middle school for seven years and Spanish 1 in a public high school for several years. I have never seen so many students failing or struggling to pass a level 1 language class across different school counties.
After many years of observing this trend, I started asking myself, why do we have so many students failing or struggling with their first Spanish class? I came to the conclusion that our students have built two barriers in their mind: The negative stereotype against certain Spanish-speaking, minority groups; and the lack of language classes at early age.
We have to educate our children about the importance of learning a second language, especially Spanish. We have 392 million Spanish-speaking people in 22 countries in the world. Even though the U.S is not part of this group, the U.S has almost 45 million Spanish-speaking people making it the number three in the world, just after Mexico and Colombia. This means, we have more Spanish-speaking people in the U.S than the rest of the Spanish-speaking countries.
By 2050 the largest economies in the world will be as follows: China, United States (Spanish spoken by the majority), India, Brazil (Spanish spoken by all), and Mexico (Spanish only); Business magazine.
We don’t have control over the globalization trends, but we do have control over helping our children to get the language classes at early age.
Our goal in World Language is to help your children to be successful in their language journey. We help them to develop their listening and speaking abilities with games, music, art, and hands-on activities; in addition, we have created a new two-hour program to prepare your 4th and 5th graders. This class will help your children with reading, writing and grammar, so they are not part of the failing or struggling groups later on their academic life. We hope to motivate them enough so they want to continue their studies of a second language until they actually become bilingual.
We live in a small world now; our children will have to compete with students all over the world. Don’t wait until is too late.
After many years of observing this trend, I started asking myself, why do we have so many students failing or struggling with their first Spanish class? I came to the conclusion that our students have built two barriers in their mind: The negative stereotype against certain Spanish-speaking, minority groups; and the lack of language classes at early age.
We have to educate our children about the importance of learning a second language, especially Spanish. We have 392 million Spanish-speaking people in 22 countries in the world. Even though the U.S is not part of this group, the U.S has almost 45 million Spanish-speaking people making it the number three in the world, just after Mexico and Colombia. This means, we have more Spanish-speaking people in the U.S than the rest of the Spanish-speaking countries.
By 2050 the largest economies in the world will be as follows: China, United States (Spanish spoken by the majority), India, Brazil (Spanish spoken by all), and Mexico (Spanish only); Business magazine.
We don’t have control over the globalization trends, but we do have control over helping our children to get the language classes at early age.
Our goal in World Language is to help your children to be successful in their language journey. We help them to develop their listening and speaking abilities with games, music, art, and hands-on activities; in addition, we have created a new two-hour program to prepare your 4th and 5th graders. This class will help your children with reading, writing and grammar, so they are not part of the failing or struggling groups later on their academic life. We hope to motivate them enough so they want to continue their studies of a second language until they actually become bilingual.
We live in a small world now; our children will have to compete with students all over the world. Don’t wait until is too late.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Bilingualism vs monolingualism
By every language you learn, a new world is opened before you. It is like being born again and new ideas break up the mind with all the freshness and delight with which we may suppose the first dawn of the intellect to be accompanied.
The knowledge of other language gives a better insight into human relations and a deeper appreciation of man's struggles and achievements.
The knowledge of other language gives a better insight into human relations and a deeper appreciation of man's struggles and achievements.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
5 biggest mistakes parents make when trying to raise bilingual kids
1. Expect their children to learn a second language within 6 months or less; when it takes up to seven years of fully immersion.
2. Pull out their children from their bilingual education because they don't see immediate results.
3. Don't encourage their children to read or practice their second language at home. There are so many online resources that parents don't even need to be bilingual themselves.
4. Deny reality. Our children will have to compete with companies and/or employees all over the world and educated people everywhere else in the world speak at least 2 languages.
5. Don't realize than education is a long term investment, not a temporary expenditure
2. Pull out their children from their bilingual education because they don't see immediate results.
3. Don't encourage their children to read or practice their second language at home. There are so many online resources that parents don't even need to be bilingual themselves.
4. Deny reality. Our children will have to compete with companies and/or employees all over the world and educated people everywhere else in the world speak at least 2 languages.
5. Don't realize than education is a long term investment, not a temporary expenditure
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