Lost in Translation

 

                                                            Where Do I Begin?

The first challenge I encountered by watching a television show with no sound was to attempt to read lips. After a while I realized that I was going to be unsuccessful with the challenge because it required sustained focus, which isn't necessarily my strong suite. I turned the television off in frustration of wanting to know what is being said and not able to figure it out. Similarly, I struggled with the news broadcast in French. I was surprised at how challenging it was to even understand the context of the story. I speak Spanish and thought to myself, surely, I can figure this out. So, I listened and understood a word here and there, but by and large I was limited in what I could actually comprehend. However, this time my frustration led me to utilize Google Translate on my phone so that I could actually understand what was being said. It confirmed my suspicion that the newscast was commentary about French politics.

The challenge of understanding something when not in your own language requires you to use a number of visual cues to gather meaning. I suppose once again, I could use Google Translate. I could also view the body language of the speakers and seek clarity in the interactions of those around me. The challenge would then be more about my perception of how those interactions around me as opposed to necessarily understanding the reality of the presented situation.

EL students sit in classrooms all across the country unable to access materials because they do not know the language, they need a visual representation about what is being discussed, shared ot taught. The sad thing is that so many educators do not realize that EL understanding will increase dramatically simply by sharing visual aids with the students. Although it is known that language acquisition is important and why students are in English speaking only classrooms, there is a difference between being able to speak the language and understand the spoken language. It's also one thing not to be able to hear the language spoken and determine the action by visual representations. However, to hear a language spoken and your only understanding of the language is diminished to the occasional word you understand. This is beyond frustrating and seems in part to be educational malpractice.

My current role in the school building is ELA Lead. Therefore, I am responsible for providing intervention, coaching and modeling for classroom teachers. I think where I can put more emphasis and support EL learners in the school building is to encourage classroom teachers to use visual representations to provide meaning and context for their students. I think this may be beneficial for all learners. Do you have any suggestions?

                                                        References

Nase, J. P. (2022, January 17). - YouTube. Retrieved October 25, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQhdwDw0Hck&t=885s

Digging up the Roots

 Roots of Language Development

For today’s blog, we will begin digging up the roots of Language Development. I would like to provide commentary for Dr. Barbara Lust’s talk at Cornell University that is specific to language acquisition (Cornell University & Albert Mann Library, 2007). She began with the history of language acquisition and the researchers who pre-dated her most current research. The talk established that language is acquired in the womb, prior to a child’s birth (Cornell University & Albert Mann Library, 2007). What was particularly insightful is that there are different schools of thought, the Rationalist and the Empirical approach which gives theory on how language is actually acquired (Cornell University & Albert Mann Library, 2007).  Essentially how a child is exposed to language in their initial first year is pivotal in how a child learns a language. In a “normal” setting, I am assuming Dr. Lust means when a child does not have any learning challenges, the format is similar in that children begin with words and sentences and meaning developed by experience (Cornell University & Albert Mann Library, 2007). Dr. Lust’s book specifically looks at language development from an interdisciplinary approach and from all levels of representation (Cornell University & Albert Mann Library, 2007). I appreciated the discussion about how children can learn multiple languages at once and the process is still the same.

The video itself was helpful in better understanding of the text. Dr. Lust’s Booktalk further elucidates the process of language acquisition which is key in a child learning to read. Language has five parameters: syntax, morphology, phonology, semantics and pragmatics. 

Syntax is the form or structure of a language (Owens, 2019, p.18).Morphology is concerned with internal organization of words (Owens, 2019, p.20).Phonology is the aspect of the language concerned with rules governing the structure, distribution and sequencing of speech sounds and the shape of syllables (Owens, 2019, p.21).Semantics is a system of rules governing the meaning  or content of words and word combinations (Owens, 2019,p.22).Pragmatics concentrates on the social use of language and on how you use language to  achieve your communication goals (Owens, 2019,p.24).

 Each part is essential in knowing where a student with reading challenges as well as an English learner may struggle at a key element and impact their reading. I often see this with universal screeners like Dynamic Indicators of Basic Literacy Skills (DIBELS) in which educators must drill down to find out where a student is having difficulty. Most of the time in elementary students I find it in phonemic awareness. English Language Learners are particularly challenged because certain letters and sounds are not the same in their home language.

An area of interest that I think would be helpful in teaching African American students is learning how dialects and code switching play a part in how students learn language (Owens, 2019, p.27). This will be shared in coming blogs. Stay tuned as we dig up the roots of language development.

References

Cornell University & Albert Mann Library. (2007, November 29). Child Language Acquisition. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9gATksP8xc&feature=youtu.be

Owens, R. (2019). Language Development: An Introduction. Pearson Education, Incorporated.

TedTalk & Bowern, C. (n.d.). Ted-Ed Where Did English Come From. Ted-Ed. https://ed.ted.com/lessons/where-did-english-come-from-claire-bowern

Treasure, J. (2011, July). Julian Treasure: 5 ways to listen better. TED. Retrieved October 18, 2022, from https://www.ted.com/talks/julian_treasure_5_ways_to_listen_better