tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082226991800167507.post8509860819021951089..comments2023-12-08T03:29:25.202-05:00Comments on Adult Literacy @ VCU: Should There Be an ‘Other’ Language? Or Is There More Power to be Found in the Multilingual?Susan Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03203951366654414340noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082226991800167507.post-75027259169097174962013-04-23T05:57:57.833-04:002013-04-23T05:57:57.833-04:00Holly - I keyed in on one paragraph. When the moth...Holly - I keyed in on one paragraph. When the mother corrected her child in Spanish, it reminded me of something I did with my children. When they were small, they didn't yet speak French, but knew two French phrases: "What did you forget?" and "One does not do that here." I did this for exactly the same reason as the mother. I didn't embarrass my children by correcting them publicly, and they knew immediately that what I was saying needed to be listened to.cpscathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00269967223534383786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082226991800167507.post-66243478286156993302013-04-22T21:38:31.531-04:002013-04-22T21:38:31.531-04:00Holly, one thing us monolinguals miss out on is th...Holly, one thing us monolinguals miss out on is the meta-linguistic awareness that comes from translating across languages. Our grammars are our lenses to the world. In my world it's all about "green chairs" and "stinky feet." This modifier-modified relationship is, for me, "natural." I reify this order until some pesky Francophile starts talking about "chairs green" and "feet stinky." It's only then that I realize (for a fleeting second) how arbitrary language is. The very way I think about the universe and everything I love in it is a mere construction--one of countless possibilities--that enables and limits very utterance, perception, reflection.Bill Muthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12295192908023335854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082226991800167507.post-23505170482017755312013-04-21T07:44:35.145-04:002013-04-21T07:44:35.145-04:00Holly,
Your post brought to mind my grade school ...Holly,<br /><br />Your post brought to mind my grade school experience in McAllen, Texas. Second grade, I think and one of the few school experiences that stick with me. McAllen is at the southernmost tip of Texas. The schools teach both Spanish and English (1/2 day in each language). As a child I loved it for many of the reasons you bring up. At that young age we learn so quickly, not only the language, but the culture. Perhaps most valuable, though, is the realization that we are all "human together." One cannot help but think that if we had more opportunities to share a language (or a culture) the world might be a bit more welcoming place! susangalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14122121226923486356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082226991800167507.post-81514199191134137372013-04-17T06:48:35.078-04:002013-04-17T06:48:35.078-04:00Hi Holly-your post really got me thinking, too. M...Hi Holly-your post really got me thinking, too. My son went to German school from age 3-7. He was on his way to learning German just as we moved. It was not until 9th grade that he picked it up again. Of course, we could have found private tutors to work with him along the way, but life keeps us busy and takes us in other directions. I personally think our American education system doesn't value foreign language studies as much as the STEM areas, and with all the tension around scarce resources, foreign language education does not seem to be a priority. I completely agree that learning an additional language opens up so many windows to the culture and discourse in which it is embedded. <br /><br />As an aside, my son doesn't like school and homework very much, but he continues to do well in German. Sometimes my family tries to have dinner conversations "auf Deutsch." In a strange way, speaking (rather poorly) German makes us feel closer because of our shared experiences with the language and culture. <br /><br />Thank you. SusanSusan Watsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03203951366654414340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082226991800167507.post-40251155995716339212013-04-16T21:19:45.062-04:002013-04-16T21:19:45.062-04:00Being multi-lingual offers us so much that I respe...Being multi-lingual offers us so much that I respect! I greatly enjoyed the perspective you shared watching your son and friend interact. It is so great that your son shows that natural curiosity and acceptance. Perhaps the next generation will be more readily multi-lingual than our generation. Your son is probably already picking up words and phrases while he plays. A friend of mine had reservations when her middle school age son was put in a co-taught ESL classroom at the start of the year - he was one of four native English speakers! She quickly learned how much this setting had to offer her son and he is now learning Spanish just by being partially emersed in the setting. He probably could have taught me a great deal. His mom is now delighted with this educational opportunity! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13778848680104778569noreply@blogger.com