Bilingualism Session 3

Agenda Language difference Bilingualism and cultureCode switching Paths to bilingualism Strategies to enhance

bilingualismBilingualism assignment

What is Academic English Dialect Language other than English Accent

Group discussionShare with other group members how rules in non English language are different from English

Do you write exactly the same way as you speak?

Do you have certain sounds that English doesn’t have?

Does English has some sounds that your language doesn’t have?

How is the order of words in the sentence?

Does verb change with gender or other conditions related to nouns?

Language differences Subject- verb agreement Gender and verb relationPlural and singular verbsSpecific connotations Subject and verb arrangement Tense and verb relationCultural significance of language

I was speaking Spanish until I started kindergarten. I don’t know what happened but slowly I lost it. I stopped communicating with my parents in Spanish. Now I understand what they say but can not express myself in Spanish.

When I go to Mexico my family laughs at me as I can’t speak proper Spanish. I can’t talk to my grandparents who know only Spanish.

I have lost connection to my family. I feel like an outsider. I am neither here nor there…………

Bilingualism goes beyond language

What does it mean?

Special considerations for multilingual programs

We MUST support each and every child’s home language,

And we must help them learn English

Without sacrificing any of the important learning that happens in ECE!

Says Who?NAEYCTESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of

Other Languages)CEC-DEC (Exceptional children)OHS (office of head start)NABE (National Association for

Bilingual Education)

State guidance such as TX, CA, MA

GDHave you worked with bilingual

children?What are their characteristics/

behaviors when it comes to language development?

How does it feel? (Speak in other language)

What should teachers know?The process of first language

development Language experiences and

practices of English learners During the preschool years,

children are in process of developing their languages

How to incorporate cultural differences into language use within their daily routine

The process of first language development, sounds, words, sentences

Language experiences and practices of English learners

( some communities parents are actively involved in talking to their children, reading to them. Some communities adults don’t talk children directly. Children learn language by picking the overheard phrases. Some communities teach their children social rules of communication, adult speech early on.

Children who were asked very obvious answer questions did not answer all the time)

During the preschool years, children are in a process of developing their languages

They communicate effectively their needs to others around them

They articulate most of the sounds in their language

They follow the grammatical pattern around them

Large vocabulary Use language creatively

Difference between monolingual and DLLDifferent developmental

pathways: Different levels of exposure to languages

Opportunities to code switch (language mix)

Greater demands on memory: Two sets of grammar rules, two sets of sounds and two sets of vocabulary

Development within two (or more) cultures

Advantages of bilingualism Communication: wider communication

networks, literacy in two languages, metalinguistic awareness

Cultural: broader enculturation, deeper multiculturalism, two language words , greater tolerance, less racism

Cognitive: thinking, memory, brain plasticity

Character: raised self-esteem, security in identity

Curriculum: ease in learning third language

Financial: greater employment opportunities

Paths to bilingualism Simultaneous bilingualismSuccessive bilingualismReceptive bilingualism

Simultaneous bilingualismProcess of learning two languages

within the same span of time, starting before age 3

Children develop in both languagesEqually balanced knowledge is rare

and hard to achieveWhat happens in the brain?How many of you learned two languages this

way? Have you seen children doing this? What

happens?

Video clipTitle 3

What you should not assume about bilingual children?

Successive bilingualismProcess of learning a second

language after having reached at least basic mastery in the first language

By age 3, most children have acquired most aspects of oral language

How many of you learned second language this way?

What are the possible obstacles to this?

Stages in learning a second language Home language stageObservational/ listening stageTelegraphic/ formulaic speech

stageFluid language use stage

Home language stageWhen child is in a place where

language other than the home language is spoken, she may still use her home language to communicate

Slowly, she will use it only with those people who use the same language

Observational and listening stage

The child may chose to be quiet and connect language

The child will observe and listen.

More of a receptive stage than expressive

Think about going to a new place

Telegraphic/ formulaic speech stage

Child uses a few content or function words

Can you think about some words that we use often in the school?

Video clipTitle 4What are the stages of

successive bilingualism?

Fluid language useDemonstrates understanding of

rules of the English languageUses new language more

creativelySocial and academic English

Receptive bilingualism Process of learning a second

language but don’t have enough opportunities to speak

More receptive language than the expressive

Take two minutes Talk to your partner in the

language that they don’t know ( one minute)

Reverse roles

If you don’t know second language, use gibberish but with meaning.

Don’t use any gestures

Same groups Now tell the same story (2

minutes)

This time speak slowly. Pause for understanding. Use gestures, non – verbal communication. You may use one/ two keywords in English

Get feedback from your partner

Group sharing How is this experience connected to children?

First language:

Second language:

Midterm Next week, we start at 6:30

Bilingualism is not for midterm.

Felt story assignment Due on April 6th. No make ups.

We will also start Effective group times that day

Bilingual assignment Go over the documents posted

on Angel for this assignmentI will discuss it after the spring

break

Strategies to support second language acquisition

Honor the home languageCreate a climate of belongingProvide scaffoldsFocus on children’s interestsEncourage peer support

Honor the home language Encourage parents to use home

language at homeConnection to their culture and

the worldUse a few phrases from their

languageLabels in various languages at

least for the main areas

Consistency between home and schoolMany time teachers tell parents

to use school vocabulary and practices at home but forget to bring into the classroom the rich practices, tools that already exist at home.

( The reading teacher)

Video clip For all these video clips write all

the strategies that are used to facilitate

Bilingual case study

Create a climate of belonging

When the home language is respected then the child feels important

Children need to feel secured , valued to practice new language

Providing areas where they can take a break from learning a new language

http://www.languagecastle.com/2011/09/tips-translating-materials-multilingual-preschool/

Video clip

Provide scaffolds Mix non verbal communication , gestures

with language Use music and movement Expanding

Pumpkin example in the videoWhat if the teacher talks about Halloween

but is holding onto the pumpkin? http://www.languagecastle.com/2014/10/f

ast-5-gamechangers-build-language-quality-dlls/

Video clip Note down the strategies

Focus on children’s interestTalking to themObserving themShowing them objects and asking

them questions Open ended questions

Video clip

Encourage peer supportCreating buddies Pairing same language kids but

with varying English abilities Pairing English speaking with non

– English speaking child

Video clip

Code switching Can be defined as the use of two

or more languages in the same stream of talk.

It’s an ability to alternate between two language systems in a conversation.

Code switching Code switching is a natural process for

bilingual children Children switch the languages but also

change the rules accordinglyAvoid side by side translation (why?)

Read bilingual books that illustrate code switching

Some more strategies Choose key wordsAdapt all areas Supplies and stuffThemes over timeLinks to real lifeEngage, emote, express

More materials to readhttp://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/t

ta-system/cultural-linguistic/fcp/docs/important-to-know.pdf

Bilingual assignment Sample materials