Entry 1: Reflection


While I am not fluent in a second language myself, I have always been fascinated by other languages. I took Spanish in high school and I enjoyed the process of learning another language as well as practicing it with my peers. During my free time in high school, I attempted to learn Japanese on YouTube, but I did not get very far as the language is very different from English. Ortega (2013) explains the differences between second language acquisition and bilingualism, which I did not consider prior to reading this chapter. He explains that bilingualism is when a young child learns two languages at the same time, thus becoming fluent in both of them. When I was trying to learn Spanish and Japanese, that was second language acquisition and I was unable to simply pick up on the language in the same way that a young child would while being exposed to both languages in casual settings.
I am glad that the book began by distinguishing between these two terms, because I would not have separated the terms on my own. It is important for educators to understand that it is difficult for children to learn a second language at an older age. I was unable to learn a second language just by practicing it for 30 minutes to an hour a day, so I should not expect the same for my students. There should be consistent interaction between ELLs and native English speakers so that they are able to develop skills in a natural setting. There are specific methods and best practices that should be studied in order to be prepared to take on the challenge of teaching English language learners.

Ortega, L. (2013). Understanding second language acquisition.Routledge. Second Edition.

Comments

  1. UnknownJune 11, 2018 at 8:43 AM

    Hello Morgan, I think that the best way to learn a second language is to immerse yourself in the culture of that second language. I do think that interactions between native speakers of the language and those attempting to learn the language is extremely important. According to Ortega “In many parts of the globe, most children grow up speaking two or more languages simultaneously” (Ortega, 2013, pg.4). I think that it would be beneficial for students to start learning a second language before starting middle or high school. The earlier that students have to start learning a second language the better.

    Reference:

    Ortega, L. (2013). Understanding second language acquisition.Routledge. Second Edition.

    ReplyDelete

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