Bilingual-Bicultural Education

GA Summer Course 2007

Bilingualism

Literacy in two languages along a continuum that includes variations in proficiency in expressive and receptive language.

- S. Soltero 2003

Simultaneous vs. Sequential Bilinguals

Circumstantial Bilinguals vs. Elective Bilinguals

Language Proficiency

MEANING

Speaking

Writing

Listening

Reading

Productive Receptive

Benefits of Bilingualism

Intellectual: Children develop more intelligence in the language they know best by interacting with others. Knowing more than one language increases a person’s thinking skills.

Educational:A strong base in the L1 helps to learn the L2 better because many language skills transfer.

Personal: Maintaining an L1 is critical to a child’s self-esteem and identity.

Social: Language is strongest link to family and community.

Cultural: Maintaining the L1 enhances harmony and understanding between two cultures.

Economic: People who can read and write in two or more languages have more job opportunities and can make more money.

2nd Language Learning Myths

Myth Children tend to learn an L2 with ease and rapidity.

REALITY CHECK:Motivation, necessity, exposure (not age) affects children’s rate of L2 acquisition. 5-7 years to fully acquire proficiency in a 2nd language.The language demands of older learner tends to be more cognitively demanding than that of younger learners.

2nd Language Learning Myths

Myth The optimal age for learning an L2 is usually the younger the better.

REALITY CHECK:Older SLLs already know many of the concepts to which they attach new terms, children have to learn both the concepts and the terms.Younger SLLs have cognitive and experimental limitations.

2nd Language Learning Myths

Myth The more exposure to the L2, the faster and easier it is learned.

REALITY CHECK:

L2 development largely depends on comprehensible input, motivation, and quality of instruction.

2nd Language Learning Myths

Myth The ability to speak the L2 means in the L2.

REALITY CHECK:The four language domains: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Abstract and decontextualized language is more complex and demanding than concrete and context embedded language.

2nd Language Learning Myths

Myth All children the L2 in the same manner.

REALITY CHECK:

Cultural, social, individual difference, learning styles.

2nd Language Learning Myths

Myth The L2 should be acquired in the same way as the L1 was acquired.

REALITY CHECK:Although L1 and L2 share similarities in the process of acquisition, L2 development requires more than a nurturing and informal environment.

2nd Language Learning Myths

Myth Simultaneous acquisition of the L1 and L2 causes interference and confusion.

REALITY CHECK:

Acquiring two languages at once may result in temporary borrowing or transference, (code-switching), from one language to another that the speaker eventually controls depending on the audience.

Why Concurrent Translation Won’t Work?

Learners tune out L2 knowing that message will be heard in L1

Important and subtle information is lost in translation

The translation often becomes a weak summary of what is said

Accurate translation depend heavily on the level of proficiency of the translator

Instructional time is wasted in translation. If everything is translated the teacher is able to only cover ½ of curriculum

2nd Language Program Models

Subtractive Additive

Submersion

Structured Immersion

ESL

Newcomer Center

Transitional (early-exit)

Transitional (late-exit) Maintenance

Heritage Language

Dual Language

No Use of L1

Use of L1

L1 Acquisition & L2 Acquisition

All children develop L1

L1 is learned at a set time

L1 is acquired in a nurturing and familiar environment

Literacy in L2 is founded on L1 oral language skills

Academic learning in L1 is facilitated by prior knowledge of L1 and background knowledge of subject matter

Not all children develop L2L2 can be developed at any ageL2 is usually acquired at school

Literacy in L2 is assisted by L1 literacy and/or L2 oral languageAcademic learning in L2 must be augmented by building background knowledge of L2 and the subject matter