Raising Multilingual Kids

Kyla Kopperud Cristina Landazabal

29 May 2012

Aims of this session

• Examine how an additional language is acquired

• Importance of mother-tongue development

• Benefits of bilingualism and how we can develop balanced healthy bilinguals at home and school

• Developing a language action plan

• Question and Answer

Who are we?

Cristina Landazabal Year 1 EAL Teacher Balanced Bilingual Kyla Kopperud Year 6 EAL Teacher/ Coordinator Bilingual

Definitions

Balanced bilingual • having equal proficiency in two languages across a range of contexts (social and academic) Bilingual

• having the ability to communicate naturally and fluently in more than one language in all areas of life.

Language Ice Breaker

1. Approximately how many languages are spoken in the world today?

2. How many languages have fewer than 1000 speakers?

3. What language has the most native speakers?

4. Which language is spoken more as a second or third language than as a mother-tongue?

5. What percentage of all languages are thought to be come extinct by 2050?

Answers 1. Approximately how many languages are spoken

in the world today? 6500

2. How many languages have fewer than 1000 speakers? 2000

3. What language has the most native speakers? Mandarin

4. Which language is spoken more as a second or third language than as a mother-tongue? English

5. What percentage of all languages are thought to become extinct by 2050? 90 %

Numbers may be out of date and not completely accurate

• Write any questions about language acquisition and bi/multilingualism that you may have.

• Please stick them on the ‘car park’ on the wall.

Additional Language Acquisition

based on research of:

• Krashen, Cummins, Chamot & O’Malley, Thomas & Collier

Mother Tongue(s)

Mother Tongue(s)

500 w

ord

s

Mother Tongue(s)

500 w

ord

s

500 w

ord

s

Mother Tongue(s)

500 w

ord

s

2000 words

500 w

ord

s

Mother Tongue(s)

500 w

ord

s

2000 words

3000 words

500 w

ord

s

Mother Tongue/ First Language

500 w

ord

s

2000 words

3000 words

Cognitive Language Proficiency 500 w

ord

s

Mother Tongue(s)

500 w

ord

s

2000 words

3000 words

Cognitive Language Proficiency 500 w

ord

s

• Bilingual

• Biliterate

• Bicultural

• Affirm identity

• Achieve cognitive

potential

Benefits of mother-tongue maintenance?

• Affect cognitive development (higher level thinking, analysis) (Thomas and Collier, 1992)

• Affect academic development (simplistic vocab, ideas not cohesive) (T&C, 1992, Carder 2007)

• Affect social development (Gallager, 2009)

• Feelings of alienation, lack of belonging, identity (Gallager, 2009)

Possible Consequences

Bilinguals in the Early Years

Why?

Learning literacy first in English

Unaware of using MT to make connections

English becomes of higher value/discomfort factor

Young children are more susceptible to losing the

ability to use mother-tongue

EAL in Year 1

Long-term Goal: successful balanced bilingualism

Short-term: social and academic fluency

Support provided long enough for this to happen

Inclusive curriculum in-class support

Small group targeted skills

Home: Talk about language

• What are the linguistic goals that you have for your child?

• How strong is your home country connection?

• What value do the language(s) have for your family?

• What will/might the future hold for your family?

Mom Dad School Language Plan Language Choice in Year 2

1 Thai Thai English Kids: Both use MT only Family Language: Thai

Thai A

2 Thai English English Kids: Mum speaks Thai Dad speaks English Family Language: English

Thai A

3 Bilingual: Spanish English

English English Kids: Mum speaks Spanish Dad speaks English Family Language: Spanish or English

Spanish A

4 Thai Korean English Kids: Mum speaks Thai Dad speaks Korean Family Language: English

Choose between Thai A or Korean A – which fits into the long-term plan?

5 Norwegian Russian English Kids: Mum speaks Norwegian Dad speaks Russian Family Language: English

School: Choose Language B Home tutor: Norwegian A or Russian A

Design a Language Action Plan

• Decide what is important for you and your family.

• Whatever plan you choose, remain firm and consistent with your choice.

• Questioning, wondering, and feeling concerned are normal feelings.

• Be good language models

• Be an advocate for your language and culture!

References