BLOG #13 Abstract

Malgosia Kopczynski

Prodigy26@aol.com

Abstract

Key Findings of Research

Current research shows that child's executive function benefits from maintaining a balance of knowledge of two languages. Bilingual children have metalinguistic awareness and the ability to use code switching. 

Action Plan Goals 

My goal in conducting a survey "A Balanced Approach to Bilingualism" was to gather views and information about how to maintain a child's mother tongue or second language. Bilingualism consists of an equal balance of knowledge of two languages. In order for children to learn, maintain, and advance a second language, a substantial amount of time and effort by families and children has to be invested. I also wanted to learn about the concerns and frustrations that parents and children have regarding learning a second language. My goal was to involve a hundred people who were a part of a Polish community, a German partial immersion school, a French total immersion school, and out of state bilingual friends. I sought out to learn what challenges and hopes are involved with teaching and learning a second language. I wanted to know what thinking processes, habits, and activities of effective and successful bilingual families are. My personal goal was to become a more knowledgeable and resourceful teacher.

Results

• 59% of fathers speak a second language, 11 in total as a group
• 72% of mothers speak a second language, 9 in total as a group
• 67% of children speak a second language, 12 in total as a group
• 72% of grandparents speak a second language, 14 in total as a group
• 9 dominant languages spoken at home, as a group
• All survey participants were interested in their child becoming bilingual
• bilingual children choose to speak English with their parents, siblings, and friends but choose to speak a language other than English with their grandparents
• Second Language School and Scouting were the most popular bilingual activities 
• 62% of parents said that their child studies a second language at school
• Spanish, French, and German were the top three languages studied at school
• 61% of people said their child studies a second language more than 3 times per week at school

Implications 

When searching for or forming a quality second language program it is important to consider a child's interest in learning games and songs, celebrating cultural traditions, participating in interactive and engaging activities, learning about the culture, and technology use. Existing second language programs would benefit from increasing class time to three times a week, allowing for the possibility of becoming fluent by presenting students with the same language exposure for their entire elementary school career, and incorporating learning a second language throughout the day and across the curriculum. Other beneficial ideas include hiring bilingual teachers, involving parents to share their language and culture, and advocating for the importance of learning other languages. 

Use two languages from the start. Many children grow up learning two languages at the same time. Involve your children in bilingual activities. Give your child many opportunities to hear and practice using both languages in everyday situations.

Resources

Web sites

Youtube 

Babbel.com

Google Translate

Libratus.edu.pl

lilutoteach.weebly.com

duolingo.com

livemocha.com

http://www.asha.org/about/news/tipsheets/bilingual.htm (advantages of being bilingual)

http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/talk_to_your_baby#language (how to talk to your baby)

http://www.nabe.org/ (National Association for Bilingual Education)

http://www.reading.org/ (International Reading Association)

http://www.frantastique.com/partner/adw-7days

http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/

http://english.cri.cn/08chinese/  (Chinese)

http://www.chinese-tools.com/

http://www.learn-japanese.info/ (Japanese)

http://www.deutsch-lernen.com/ (German)

http://italian.about.com/ (Italian)

http://www.elanguageschool.net/italian

http://www.skritter.com/ (Chinese and Japanese)

http://www.eflclassroom.com/ (English language learning)

http://www.lingq.com/ (all languages)

http://lang-8.com/

http://www.italki.com/

Immersion schools

http://www.frenchschoolofdetroit.org/ (French total immersion)

https://sites.google.com/site/hinokiinternational/home (Japanese total immersion)

http://www.oaklandsteiner.org/ (eight years of German classes offered)

http://www.icschools.org/ (eight years of Ukrainian classes offered)