...People First Language (PFL) is used to emphasizes the individual and not the disability that is associated with them (The ARC). In other words, People First Language is utilized to acknowledge the individual as a person, not the disability that they may have. In a way, it is used to show respect to those who have a disability. If a person does use First People Language, it could also mean that the person understands that the disability does not define who they are. People may not even have to specifically identify the disability, but if one uses the appropriate words, a common understanding can be established. A person may have a disability and it could have a serious impact on their everyday life, but that does not mean their disability defines them. Some examples of People First Language are, instead of saying birth defect it would be more appropriate to say congenital disability; instead of saying someone is autistic, saying someone has autism or have a diagnosis of autism would be more appropriate as well (Snow). In schools, teachers and administrators are especially expected to use People First Language because...
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...Rollings September 17, 2012 Intercultural communication is defined as communications on face to face level between people of different cultures. “Intercultural communication involves the interaction of persons from cultural communities that are different”( Hinchcliff-Pelias, & Greer, 2004)). Intercultural communication can be extremely difficult at times as there are several barriers to communication. In order to understand the barriers of communication between different cultures, we have to look at the point of view of someone from a different culture. This paper is a narrative based on an interview I conducted of a woman born of one culture and living in a completely different culture. Dominga Philomen Laveau is like a second mother to me. In addition, she is my best friend. The thing that inspires me the most about Dominga is that she always has a new story to tell in regards to her many adventures in life. Dominga has dealt with a great amount of diversity and has been subject to many stereotypes. Born in Trinidad, and raised in Pascal, Venezuela, she migrated to the United States at the age of 17. To this day, she still faces many communication barriers as English is not her first language. The most common barrier Dominga has to deal with on a daily basis is anxiety. When dealing with people that are not familiar with her culture, background, and language, she tends to get anxious and even upset. “When you are anxious because of not knowing what you are expected to do...
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...THE ROLE OF LANGUAGE CODESWITCHING IN INCREASING ADVERTISING EFFECTIVENESS AMONG MEXICAN-AMERICAN YOUTH by MELISSA MAIER BISHOP Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of The University of Texas at Arlington in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON December 2006 Copyright © by Melissa Maier Bishop 2006 All Rights Reserved ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS A wise professor told me before starting my PhD work to not forget my distractions. Therefore, this work is dedicated to my three favorite distractions—my husband Jeff and my two sons, Abel and Peyton. Thank you, Jeff, for all of your encouragement, your support, and your shoulder to lean on and your ear to listen during the past five years as we’ve come together on this journey. Thank you, Abel and Peyton, for sharing me with my studies and for often keeping me company while I studied for my exams and wrote my papers. Thank you also to my wonderful committee who were all so encouraging and patient with me, especially my Chair, Dr. Mark Peterson. Your excitement for my ideas inspired me as well as your belief in me. You have an unselfish and self-sacrificing nature that shines through you, and you are a gift to all of your students. Many thanks also to Dr. Roger Dickinson, who was a great support to me over the past five years and a big reason I decided to join the program in the first place. Thanks to my parents and to Jeff’s parents...
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...Code Switching Code Switching, in terms of language, is the use of more than one language, by a person or more, during their conversations with each other. Code Switching is done simply because those persons know more than one language and have more than one language in common. This switch may last for a couple of sentences, for only a single phrase or may be only for a single word. It depends on how the persons take it with themselves and the others. In the article Code Switching it is written that “the switch is commonly made according to the subject of discourse, but may be for a variety of other reasons such as the mood of the speaker. For example, a person might only swear in French Language” ( 1 ). As described in the article Code Switching, there are number of situations why code switching occurs: A family that has recently immigrated to a country where a different language is spoken may switch back and forth between that language and their mother tongue, while they are learning the new language……...(this phenomenon is Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria)……………… Also, in countries with a large number of people from different ethnic backgrounds, communities will commonly switch between the language of their indigenous roots……….. code switching regularly happens between North American Mormon missionaries stationed overseas.”( 1 ) Because of the effectiveness of code switching it is widely used during our conversation. Code switching helps us to express ourselves...
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...Rodriguez exposes the readers to the nature of being bilingual and living in America. Richard Rodriguez not only emphasizes the sound of language but also the context behind it. Through his paragraphs, he goes into depth about the education system, the public, private, and intimacy language, and how much coming home has changed over the years for him. In his essay, “Aria: Memoir of a Bilingual Childhood”, Rodriguez uses anecdotes, strong arguments, and his own voice to successfully argue that bilingual education is impractical, and a child using their native language as well as English in school and public life is not needed. In the first chapter, Rodriguez talks about the struggles of growing up in a Mexican home but when he leaves his house, he enters a whole new world. Using anecdotes Rodriguez states, “I was a bilingual child, a certain kind - socially disadvantaged - the son of working-class parents, both Mexican immigrants” (Rodriguez 322). Rodriguez uses many anecdotes like this throughout the essay to persuade his readers that being bilingual isn’t an advantage. As a child it can be very difficult going to a school where English is the primary language, and so Rodriguez felt that his native language was one that was private. His language was not socially acceptable by others and so he felt that he was obligated to learn the public language which was English. And until he learned English he didn’t feel welcomed into the American society. Rodriguez states, “At last, seven...
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...it is confused to a second language learning (a foreign language often) and greatly used. Take simply, bilingualism is the ability to use two languages. However, many definitions of bilingualism are ranked. According to J. Noll Wn., published in 2004 by The Controversy, those definitions are ranked from a minimal proficiency in two languages, to an advanced level of proficiency which allows the speaker to function and appear as a “native-like” speaker of the two languages. A person may describe himself as bilingual but may mean only the ability to communicate and converse orally. Another person, when describing himself as a bilingual may mean the ability to read two or more languages. The problem here concern education. In fact, a person should be call bilingual when having the ability to communicate and read two or more languages, one as well as the second. Withal, this is applicable when having grown up in learning and using two languages simultaneously: this is the bilingual education. Nowadays, it is not surprising to meet people comfortably speaking two or more languages. Mostly because they are mixed race or because they left their home country for another one where a different language is spoken. Either with one of these situations, a bilingual education has been adapted to those people lives. Bilingual education, together with the immigration issues running all over the world has become so important that it has created fierce debates. People, small organization and even...
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...and concrete but as something that is situated and constructed by others, a glimpse of poststructuralist view on identity. Recently, language learning has been seen as participation and negotiation of self (see Higgins, forthcoming; Kinginger, 2004; Lam, 2000; Morita, 2004; Ohara, 2001; Pavlenko & Lantolf, 2000; and Solé, 2007 among others). The trend is resonated in the growing interest in language learner identity and the studies in narratives. In this paper, a case of heritage language learner will be investigated upon the theoretical frame of poststructuralism. Narrative inquiry will be used to analyze how she negotiates her learner identity. The purpose of this paper is two-fold: First, by looking at the struggle a language learner makes to acquire her heritage language, I reclaim the centrality of identity in defining heritage language learners. Second, to widen the horizons of narrative studies to the cyber space as it provides an ample source of easily accessible data and it has become one of the commonplace media of daily communication. Heritage Language Learners and Identity To refer to the Heritage Language Learners (HLLs), various terms have been implemented such as ‘native speakers,’ ‘quasi native speakers,’ ‘bilingual speakers,’ or, from the dissatisfaction with the prior terms, ‘home background speakers,’ and ‘heritage language speakers’ (Valés, 2005: p. 412). There has not yet been a concise definition, however, that succinctly encapsulates the distinct features...
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...because it uses the learning tools students already have as the basis for building new skills and acquiring new knowledge. Most children enter school with basic language skills in English or other languages, which are already in place. If teachers are able to use the native language skills of the student, the native language will help students develop the academic competence they need to succeed in education. Children learn more effectively if they learn English through the use of their native language, which provides a contextual basis for learning and allows them to keep pace with their peer group while acquiring the language they will need to learn in order to interact effectively in today's society. There are several other distinct benefits to the use of bilingual education, besides its basic effectiveness. First, it preserves children's sense of pride in the language of their parents, allowing them to move freely in an English-language dominant society while retaining an important link to their cultural and linguistic heritage. It helps protect their sense of identity, which is also strongly linked to the language and culture of their family and heritage. 2) The United States has often struggled with the role of immigrants. Do you think debates over immigration influence teachers’ ability to provide quality language education for immigrant children? I think the biggest debate on immigration influence is english only advocates. They argue that even if bilingual education...
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...Language Acquisition ESL 523: English Language Teaching Andrea Byars May 14, 2015 Language Acquisition Scenario: Anale was born in Los Angeles. Spanish was the primary language spoken in her home and neighborhood. Although she has been in school her whole life, she does not have a literary foundation in her first language (L1), but is motivated to learn English. Her grandparents say that English is of a higher status, and encourage her to learn it. Learning to speak in one’s native tongue is a practice that basically begins in the womb when the newborn becomes familiar with how voices resonate. Being that this is an intrinsic talent, it is understandable that learning a second language would be an insurmountable amount of work. The scenario states that Anale has been enrolled in school for most of her life, but she does not have the literary skills to function academically. There are a number of reasons that this problem could exist; first, she may believe that as a result of her scholastic experiences that her literacy skills appeared to be more developed in English as opposed to Spanish. Next, there is a chance that Anale has become so absorbed in learning the core curriculum in her secondary language, that she failed to receive the necessary literary training in her own native dialect. Therefore, her literary skills are more influential in English because it is imperative that English Language Learners learn academics in their native language in order to be instructionally...
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...Bilingual language is beneficial for the child’s first language and English development “Language constitutes us, it gives us meaning and allows us to make meaning, and it develops and abolishes spaces.” (Benjamin, 2002). Critiques of bilingual education continually claim that children can only learn one language at a time after which they are taught a second language (Krashen, 2000). They assert that bilingual education cause confusion among children and limit their intelligence capabilities; they argue that real bilinguals cannot combine their language. Advocates of bilingual education present arguments on its benefits, they suggest that, for many children the process of being literate and studying a new language simultaneously is overwhelming and that the bilingual process assist them to develop their native language first which results to a smooth transition to English. The main aim of the bilingual program was to promote the prominent language to issue instructions and at the same time enhance the development of the second language. Some define it in aspects of its capability to enhance cognitive and effective development while others view that it should focus on cultural enrichment and linguistic development. However, in some bilingual programs, instructions are issued through the use of the second language especially in cases where the first language erodes over time. (Baez, 2002) As the child proficiency in English increases he or she loses grasp of the native language...
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...American Society has been criticized as being two materialistic they say that American people care too much about their children and doesn’t teach them the important things on life such as loving and take care with their family. I think that Hwangs parents were good parents in terms of their hard sacrifice that they make to their daughter by sending her to another country. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity that Ms. Hwang can grow up and move her life to one of the greatest opportunity across the nation. Hwangs parents did not regret by taking her to America they know that if they will bring her to another country and become a layer they have confidence that she can make it in terms of her young age. I think it is a good feeling that Hwang did go to school and pursue her career. As a matter of fact she ended up of being a writer none of this would happen if she didn’t believe in herself that she can make it but in the end she did. Her parents were good parents but what confuses her was the fact that she doesn’t speak Korean in most cases Korean people doesn’t speak English as their first language most of them are immigrants. If I have the opportunity to be in Hwangs situation I would probably take seminars in Korean class or school that teach native language. It is hard for her because it is not her second language I understand that it is hard for people to talk if they don’t know many languages. I think her parents left her unjustified or with no answers If they know that their...
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...communicate in two languages. Bilingualism can be acquired in two different ways. Children usually acquire bilingualism from being exposed to two separate languages from a parent, nanny, or caregiver. Simultaneous bilingualism occurs when a child acquires two languages at the same time (simultaneously), before the age of three (Otto and Hall, 2010). Ideally, the child will have equal experiences with each language. Sequential bilingualism is when a child has had sufficient exposure, usually after the age of three and after the first language is mastered. (asha.org, 2004). Sequential bilingualism is when the child acquires their second language after they have mastered a primary language. This usually occurs when they have parents who speak a different language from that of the community. When they enter school, they are introduced to their second language. There are two main hypotheses that explain how children acquire secondary language. They are the unitary system hypothesis and the separate system hypothesis. In the unitary system hypothesis, it is the belief that children fuse together words from both languages into one lexicon. After around three years of age, they will start to split the words into two separate lexicons, but use the one set of grammar rules. In the separate system hypothesis, it is believed that the child separates the languages in the beginning, creating two different lexicons. Studies indicate that the vocabulary in each language of the bilingual...
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...The Importance of Staff Diversity in Childcare Since the introduction of affirmative action in the 1960's, diversity has become a growing concern. Diversity has also caused employers to become more aware of its necessity in the work environment. In a society that is growing more diverse by the day, businesses are forced to recognize the need for diversity in their overall management practices. Working in the childcare business has taught this author the importance of diversity among my staff and our classrooms. The services that are provided reach all types of families, cultures, and races. But the vast majority of childcare centers tend to lack diversity in their staff. The author of this paper intends to show directors of childcare facilities that diversity is important in order to meet the needs of their clients for three primary reasons: to incorporate all walks of life in an ever-changing society, to develop clear communication between staff and parents, and to enhance the learning environment for the children being taught. Diversity has become a part of our everyday society and culture. As childcare providers it is imperative that directors become aware of the constant change and equip themselves with the knowledge needed to meet the needs of the current society. According to Pearson (2000), “...early childhood educators and caregivers are faced with the dilemma of meeting the needs of an ever-changing population. As the population becomes more diverse, classrooms...
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...implemented is still a major issue in the country. Filipino people cannot accept the fact that our education is now prolonged. Some are arguing that K to12 is not the solution to improve the quality of education while other’s concern is to lessen the burden of the parents and children particularly those who are living in poverty. Well, for us, we cannot blame those people and they are not pessimistic because what they only want is to have assurance of a better and long term future based from the decisions that our government is making. I strongly believe that the implementation of the K to12curriculum is an assurance for quality education if implemented properly from the higher ups down to the four walls of the classroom. I've said this because as we observed from those countries who belong to the first and second world countries, they don’t have just have 12 years but more than and see they are very progressive. Let’s take United States for example, they follow k to 15 curriculum, their government is very supportive to education, see what is America. One of the essential components of the K to 12 curriculum is the implementation of Mother Tongue Base Multi-lingual Education (MTB-MLE) in which the first language will be the medium of instruction from kinder to grade 3. I am certain that the MTB-MLE is also beneficial in attaining quality education. Studies show that students learn better when taught in their native language than in foreign tongue. Through the use of mother tongue...
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...EDPROFST 226: Introduction to Bilingualism and Bilingual Immersion Education Assignment One: In his book, Language, Power and Pedagogy: bilingual children in the crossfire, Cummins (2000) tells a story of a bilingual Mexican mother who was ordered by a judge to stop speaking Spanish to her daughter during a custody dispute with her husband. The judge’s view was that the mother was ‘abusing’ her daughter by speaking Spanish in their home (p.13). Unfortunately the judge is not alone in his opinion in regards to second language acquisition and bilingualism. Nor is the context of America and the minority language of Spanish different from the New Zealand context in the way that minority languages are viewed ‘ongoing bilingualism in a so-called minority, indigenous or community language is still regarded by many as an educational, and wider social impediment” (May, Hill, Tiakiwai, 2004, p.8). Cummins asks some important questions in regards to bilingual education in both homes and schools including, ‘To what extent is it child abuse to send new teachers into classrooms (in multilingual cities such as Toronto, London, or New York) with minimal or no preparation on how to teach academic content to students who are in the process of learning English and whose cultural background differs significantly from that assumed by all of the structures of schooling (e.g. curriculum, assessment, and teacher preparation)?’ (Cummins, 2000, p.14) New Zealand is a rich, diverse multicultural...
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