BLOG #9 Great Suggestions!

Analyzing research data is hard work but very rewarding. It can be overwhelming but the more it is read and reflected upon, the clearer the big picture becomes. I am noticing ways in which I would change a survey in the future. Asking open ended questions has generated important views and opinions. I enjoyed reading what people had to say! I think that conducting a survey through a comfortable interview process would yield even more knowledge and insight into people's views on bilingualism. 

 Do you feel that the language program at school is effective?

Yes	51	70%
No	22	30%

Since 61% of people indicated that their child studies a language other than English more than three times per week, I was not surprised to see that 70% of people feel that the language program at school is effective. This is not the data that I expected! I was not only sure that language classes weren't offered often enough but I was almost certain that language programs were not effective! I guess public opinion proved me wrong. I am still suspicious over these results and would be very interested in continuing this survey using a random population. I surveyed mostly bilingual people who more than likely invest in sending their children to schools with successful language programs. 

How do you think it could be improved?

My Child Likes...

• learning games
• learning songs
• celebrating cultural traditions
• eating and cooking different ethnic foods
• celebrations
• field trips
• activities
• art
• cooperative play
• hearing poems
• looking at authentic artifacts from other countries
• performing
• taking part in plays
• technology

Suggestions and Improvements

• more practice with conversation
• more frequent classes-3 times a week
• more choices of what language my child can study
• should be offered during the school and not only as an after school activity
• more out of school activities such as field trips
• incorporate learning a second language throughout the day and across the curriculum
• less homework sent home
• make more books available
• more reading assignments
• ask parents to come in and share culture, stories, and languages spoken at home
• more parent involvement
• more of a variety of languages offered
• teach more than just counting in another language
• more involvement of technology

Quality of Teaching and Program

• teachers could try and get the kids more engaged in learning
•  in middle school, language teachers are not proficient in the language that they teach the students
• encourage my child in learning/speaking second language 
• it is only an introductory program
• it is only a language exploratory program that introduces three languages
• more languages offered
• hire bilingual teachers

It's Not Sticking

• child isn't able to translate words into English
• cannot remember lessons studied at school
• only knows simple words and phrases

Bringing Knowledge Home

• child sings songs that she has learned
• is able to recall lessons
• names object at home
• must practice language at home 
• at home, tries to speak the language he's learning at school

More Intensive Programs Wanted

• I wish foreign languages started in preschool and continued from K-8
• more partial and total immersion programs
• long term retention would be feasible with more practice

Communication

• better communication of what the expectations are

Wow! Parents are really good at giving suggestions! They know their children the best, of course, and are able to suggest what interests their child. I liked learning that children enjoy performing because this gave me so many ideas on how to incorporate a second language into the performances that students take part in throughout the year. 

I thought the most interesting piece of advice from the survey was to incorporate learning a second language throughout the day and across the curriculum. It sounds like some people are interested in partial and immersion programs :)

I taught at a charter school whose "sister school" was in Krakow, Poland. I taught my Kindergarteners some Polish. When the school owner would come visit my classroom, she was always pleased to be greeted in Polish. We sang "Jingle Bells" in Polish for the Christmas concert, said "Dziendobry" (good morning) to each other every morning and "Do widzenia" (until we see each other again) at the end of each day. I would also say things such as "come here" to them in Polish. Coincidentally, I am friends with the Kindergarten teacher in Poland so we had our classes keep in touch via Skype. This is a great way to incorporate technology! 

Does your child enjoy learning a second language?

Yes	71	95%
No	4	5%

Children love to learn, we all know this. As long as the material is presented in an interesting and interactive way, then children's curiosity and enthusiasm for learning new things becomes evident. It was nice to see that 95% of children enjoy learning a second language!