Language as a Reflection of Culture | Origin: ED137
This is a general discussion forum for the following learning topic:
Cultural Diversity: Including Every Student --> Language as a Reflection of Culture
Post what you've learned about this topic and how you intend to apply it. Feel free to post questions and comments too.
Literacy is not indictive of language comprehension. You have to consider what the student's primary language is.
The way language is used can reveal a lot about a culture's values. For example, some cultures emphasize respect through the use of formal or honorific language, while others may focus on inclusivity through informal language. Students should be expected to refer to their mother tongue when necessary to solidify information that is being learned.
Language reflects culture, and so by silencing a person's language, we can actually silence the person's culture or make the student feel that his/her home culture is irrelevant.
If a student understands the best with cultural integrations, using a language-based learning tool should help them with the concept.
A student's ability and cognitive ability should not be limited if the instruction is fully in 'english' and english is a student's 2nd or 3rd language. A student can fully comprehend course concepts, learning materials, studying materials, etc. with general ESL services, tutoring, and general guidance that keeps in mind how their brain processes material and other skill processing factors.
what I learned is when teaching to students something you should meet them where they are to try and help them succeed in learning. For instance, helping the student whose mother tongue may be Spanish learn English by relating familiar concepts to them that correspond with the English language.
Provide support to students whose mother tongue is not the language the course is being taught in.
Make sure assess that changes are not due to processing of multiple languages
This section reminds me to keep in mind my own experiences of learning French as my second language. Competency (literacy) may not be shown for all forms of language (writing, speaking, understanding). Again, stressing that every student is different.
One must have language to have literacy.
We listen, study and learn.
I learned that, according to the language learning theory, a person's "mother tongue" should be used when learning other sets of vocabulary or terminology. Therefore, I will remind students to consider the concepts first, in their own way of thinking, native language, or past experiences, before applying it to contemporary practice. Furthermore, a student can be literate in English but maybe not in a particular study or literate in a certain science but not so much in English. I am surprised at how we sometimes assume things, even though our motives are sound, that can mislead and disrupt our outcomes.
Language is vital to literacy.
I did not know as much about encouraging and allowing students to utilize their first language as a reference for English or other languages as a way to reference and support the new language acquisition process! I am excited to learn more about this and see how I can incorporate support and resources for students in a program where English is the expected language for instruction, testing, etc.
Language and literacy are not the same. This applies to ESL, as well as those with English as their mother tongue.
It is important to understand language and culture
It is important to incorporate other languages that students may speak. When students can learn a new language or information and still utilize their mother tongue to assist while learning it ,studies have shown an easier learning style. Being bilingual enhances learning
If students are learning a new language, the student's mother tongue should be valued and respected. Therefore, the student is encouraged to use their mother language to help understand and clarify words in the new language. This is essential to ensure the student understands the meaning of the words and uses the new language effectively.
