The student's native language begins in their homes.
I really enjoyed this section. I never thought that much about how allowing an ESL student to access his or her mother language could aid in learning English. When I have studied Spanish (very little), I was always connecting the base of Spanish words with the base of English words. Both often had Latin parallels. Even as I communicate with my brother and his friends whose mother language is American Sign Language (ASL), it is obvious how logically ASL aligns with English.
One factor in teaching nursing is that in the United States, the NCLEX is given in English. While we faculty should respect the bilingual or multilingual students in our program, the student still needs prepared to take the licensing exam in English.
This section brings to the forefront, concepts that many take for granted but in fact, need to embrace as a core value.
Everyone has a voice and wants to be heard
i learned what mother tongue is
Comment on Shane Apperley's post: We can't equate ESL or ELL students with learning another language and taking your course is struggling and the English speaking language is not struggling with the content in your class.
Language and literacy are interdependent, and each student deserves opportunities to increase their competency in all aspects of both.
The importance of allowing access to the students' mother tongue to aid in learning new languages such as English.
This section explained how language is the form and literacy is the use or the uses of that form. Language is a way of communicating ideas of feelings by sounds, gestures, etc. Literacy refers to the ability to use the language .
The spoken word is necessary to illustrate culture.
It is important to remember that language skills do not necessarily reflect literacy. I have 3 nephews who are bilingual and when learning English were embarrassed when they got words wrong because people thought they weren't very smart. I strive to ensure ESL and ELL students are recognized and never embarrassed in my classroom.
Understanding that the "mother tongue" for bilingual/multilingual students plays an important role in their successful learning in English. As the instructor it is important to recognize this and also to assist students who may need additional language resources to be successful in your course.
to me, language as a reflection of culture means using someone's verbal and/or written communication to understand more about the individual's culture.
It also should be noted that receptive language develops first, and expressive language will tend to lag, so a student may understand more than they can express verbally (or in writing which is a literacy skill).
Promote language literacy
I love the concept of how new pathways in the mind are opened in the bilingual learner.
The ablility to speak multiple languages gives students both advantages and disadvantages. It is our job as instructors to cause this to become a strength in their lives.
Comment on Marvin Smith's post:
Challenging concepts that allow us the opportunity to learn every day
The understanding that ,"bilinguals use and learn language in ways that change their minds and brains, which has consequences -- many positive, according to Judith F. Kroll, a Penn State cognitive scientist.", is a factor to keep in mind to in a positive way, push harder for learning outcomes
In an educational setting, teachers can use language to foster a greater understanding of cultural diversity. We can encourage students to share words, phrases, or stories from their home languages, study literature from different cultures, or learn about other languages' cultural norms and values. This not only enhances linguistic skills but also fosters cultural sensibility and respect among students.
