Hi Jennie, I find it most interesting that you was exposed at an early age to the different languages, which will surely create an awareness to want to expose others to the same. I see this as both your parents helped each other to learn other languages. My eldest brother-in-law is from a Chinese background, from who I have learned a few Chinese words, and as such I see your point about the read-along. Also. I like your explanation about the process which includes pronunciation, practice, homework in phrases, fill in the blanks, circling the words and so on. I guess it feels great to finish learning both your Chinese and American languages at the same time. As such I agree with you that all students can learn if they have the necessary resources, with the instructions, in the right environment. You will be a great teacher.
Thank you so much for your reply! Chinese is a difficult language to learn, and I feel lucky that I was exposed to it my entire life as I feel like being bilingual is an important skill to have in a career like teaching. It helps to put me into the perspective of a ELL and hopefully it will make me a better teacher who is aware of the challenge of learning a new language in a classroom full of native speakers that is not like their own. It can only help bring me awareness in my own teaching and a heart to help those who is acquiring English in a way similar to my own upbringing.
Hello Jennie, I find it very fascinating how your parents were able to teach other different languages, also that you were able to learn Chinese through a few hours of schooling. You learned through instruction, while your parents learned in a more naturalistic approach. Based on Ortega (2011), “Instructed learners learn additional languages through formal study in school” (p. 6). The way that you were instructed in Chinese school was very similar to the way that I remember learning my second language. First, I learned the alphabet in the second language then learned the pronunciation of words. I also, learned a lot through read aloud or picture story books.
Ortega, L. (2011). Understanding second language acquisition. London and New York: Routledge.
Hi Jhoanna! Thanks for the reply! I think it's very interesting that many languages start off similarly with the learning of an alphabet and then building up onward. It definitely helped learning Chinese with an active Chinese community that impacted me in my early schooling as well as parents who only spoke to me in Chinese. It is interesting to think about how I learned Chinese from them and they learn English through us kids. However, my siblings and I's Chinese surpass their English as they learned English at an older age whereas my siblings and I acquired it early from them and our schooling.
Jennie, I agree that the age in which you learned L2 versus the age that your parents learned English was a big factor for learning L2. Also, the full immersion into the second language, instead of instructed learning could’ve been another factor. Do you believe your parents’ fluency in English would’ve been better if they were exposed to a mixture of instructed and naturalistic learning?
Hey Jennie! I actually went to CCC as well! Unfortunately, I only went for like a week. I really regret not learning Chinese fluently at that time, but now I’m trying to re-learn Chinese now. Ortega says, “to connect such understandings to the real-world problems that arise for people who, by choice or by circumstance, set out to learn a language other than their mother tongue.” (2011). What she is saying is that people that learn L2 seek to understand another language they face real world problems. You said that you believe in having students connecting and learning English in relation to authentic situations. I completely agree with you in that regard. Without real experiences and the discipline to learn a second language past childhood, it would be difficult to actually acquire an L2. Ortega, L. (2011). Understanding second language acquisition. London and New York: Routledge.
Hey Joseph! That is fascinating that you also went to CCC even if it was just for a week! That was an interesting point that you brought up about the type of situation you are in that helps you learn a language. The position that I was in helped create many opportunities where I had to learn and speak Chinese as my parents only spoke that language as well as other members of my family. As there is a community of Chinese speakers here in Houston, I have seen the benefits of knowing a second language as there is a cultural aspect to it that helped bring me motivation and a sense of community from knowing the language.
Yeah, there are a lot of situations where knowing other languages can be beneficial. For example, in my class, I have a student that barely knows English and is really struggling in my class. Luckily, i spoke Vietnamese and as a result I planned a lot of one on one sessions with him to improve his understanding of the content we were trying to teach.
Jennie, I really enjoyed watching your video. It was really interesting to know how you were going to two different schools and learning two different things. I can relate to your past lifestyle because when I was young my parents struggled with English as well. And I always had to go to religious classes every Saturday. However, it was really interesting to know the different ways you overcame your struggles in understanding English. I find it really interesting how you shared certain reading books that were in Chinese and it was something different to see. You can always use certain books and other useful stuff to help your future ELL students to comprehend certain things as well. According to researchers, "Indeed, many people around the globe may learn, forget and even relearn a number of languages that are not their mother tongue over the course of their late childhood, adolescence and adulthood." (Ortega, 2011, Pg. 1). So I think it is really good you have learned a new language and you have continued to learn more about your language where you attended many religious classes and had overcame your fears. Also following you past you continued to learn English has your second language and it could have been difficult since you spoke a different language at home. However, I think it is really good you continued to strive for excellence and are very successful right now.
Hey Seemin! Thanks for the reply! It is difficult to be a first generation here in the United States as the culture is completely different from what my parents were used to. However, culture has a large part in language acquisition and I thoroughly enjoy being a part of both the American and Chinese culture as both of these make up who I am today. I like the quote you brought up by Ortega, it is something that I can relate to as I use Chinese less and less as my daily interactions with other Chinese speakers have diminished. I am disappointed that I have lost some of my Chinese over the years and it is a goal of mine to become fluent once again.
Your linguistic journey is amazing. Having been part of a heritage language program provides us with insights about an alternative way to help kids maintain their mother tongue. Additionally, you grew up in a bilingual household and you will be able to help us answer many of the questions we will have about second and additional language learning. Your language experience will be a great asset as you embark in the teaching profession or any other profession.
Hi Jennie, I find it most interesting that you was exposed at an early age to the different languages, which will surely create an awareness to want to expose others to the same. I see this as both your parents helped each other to learn other languages. My eldest brother-in-law is from a Chinese background, from who I have learned a few Chinese words, and as such I see your point about the read-along. Also. I like your explanation about the process which includes pronunciation, practice, homework in phrases, fill in the blanks, circling the words and so on. I guess it feels great to finish learning both your Chinese and American languages at the same time. As such I agree with you that all students can learn if they have the necessary resources, with the instructions, in the right environment. You will be a great teacher.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your reply! Chinese is a difficult language to learn, and I feel lucky that I was exposed to it my entire life as I feel like being bilingual is an important skill to have in a career like teaching. It helps to put me into the perspective of a ELL and hopefully it will make me a better teacher who is aware of the challenge of learning a new language in a classroom full of native speakers that is not like their own. It can only help bring me awareness in my own teaching and a heart to help those who is acquiring English in a way similar to my own upbringing.
DeleteHello Jennie,
ReplyDeleteI find it very fascinating how your parents were able to teach other different languages, also that you were able to learn Chinese through a few hours of schooling. You learned through instruction, while your parents learned in a more naturalistic approach. Based on Ortega (2011), “Instructed learners learn additional languages through formal study in school” (p. 6). The way that you were instructed in Chinese school was very similar to the way that I remember learning my second language. First, I learned the alphabet in the second language then learned the pronunciation of words. I also, learned a lot through read aloud or picture story books.
Ortega, L. (2011). Understanding second language acquisition. London and New York: Routledge.
Hi Jhoanna!
DeleteThanks for the reply! I think it's very interesting that many languages start off similarly with the learning of an alphabet and then building up onward. It definitely helped learning Chinese with an active Chinese community that impacted me in my early schooling as well as parents who only spoke to me in Chinese. It is interesting to think about how I learned Chinese from them and they learn English through us kids. However, my siblings and I's Chinese surpass their English as they learned English at an older age whereas my siblings and I acquired it early from them and our schooling.
Jennie, I agree that the age in which you learned L2 versus the age that your parents learned English was a big factor for learning L2. Also, the full immersion into the second language, instead of instructed learning could’ve been another factor. Do you believe your parents’ fluency in English would’ve been better if they were exposed to a mixture of instructed and naturalistic learning?
DeleteHey Jennie!
ReplyDeleteI actually went to CCC as well! Unfortunately, I only went for like a week. I really regret not learning Chinese fluently at that time, but now I’m trying to re-learn Chinese now. Ortega says, “to connect such understandings to the real-world problems that arise for people who, by choice or by circumstance, set out to learn a language other than their mother tongue.” (2011). What she is saying is that people that learn L2 seek to understand another language they face real world problems. You said that you believe in having students connecting and learning English in relation to authentic situations. I completely agree with you in that regard. Without real experiences and the discipline to learn a second language past childhood, it would be difficult to actually acquire an L2.
Ortega, L. (2011). Understanding second language acquisition. London and New York: Routledge.
Hey Joseph!
DeleteThat is fascinating that you also went to CCC even if it was just for a week! That was an interesting point that you brought up about the type of situation you are in that helps you learn a language. The position that I was in helped create many opportunities where I had to learn and speak Chinese as my parents only spoke that language as well as other members of my family. As there is a community of Chinese speakers here in Houston, I have seen the benefits of knowing a second language as there is a cultural aspect to it that helped bring me motivation and a sense of community from knowing the language.
Yeah, there are a lot of situations where knowing other languages can be beneficial. For example, in my class, I have a student that barely knows English and is really struggling in my class. Luckily, i spoke Vietnamese and as a result I planned a lot of one on one sessions with him to improve his understanding of the content we were trying to teach.
DeleteJennie,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed watching your video. It was really interesting to know how you were going to two different schools and learning two different things. I can relate to your past lifestyle because when I was young my parents struggled with English as well. And I always had to go to religious classes every Saturday. However, it was really interesting to know the different ways you overcame your struggles in understanding English. I find it really interesting how you shared certain reading books that were in Chinese and it was something different to see. You can always use certain books and other useful stuff to help your future ELL students to comprehend certain things as well. According to researchers, "Indeed, many people around the globe may learn, forget and even relearn a number of languages that are not their mother tongue over the course of their late childhood, adolescence and adulthood." (Ortega, 2011, Pg. 1). So I think it is really good you have learned a new language and you have continued to learn more about your language where you attended many religious classes and had overcame your fears. Also following you past you continued to learn English has your second language and it could have been difficult since you spoke a different language at home. However, I think it is really good you continued to strive for excellence and are very successful right now.
Hey Seemin!
DeleteThanks for the reply! It is difficult to be a first generation here in the United States as the culture is completely different from what my parents were used to. However, culture has a large part in language acquisition and I thoroughly enjoy being a part of both the American and Chinese culture as both of these make up who I am today. I like the quote you brought up by Ortega, it is something that I can relate to as I use Chinese less and less as my daily interactions with other Chinese speakers have diminished. I am disappointed that I have lost some of my Chinese over the years and it is a goal of mine to become fluent once again.
Your linguistic journey is amazing. Having been part of a heritage language program provides us with insights about an alternative way to help kids maintain their mother tongue. Additionally, you grew up in a bilingual household and you will be able to help us answer many of the questions we will have about second and additional language learning. Your language experience will be a great asset as you embark in the teaching profession or any other profession.
ReplyDelete