The KArla
Entry 2
https://youtu.be/QhMIwk-UGkM
Karl is a second language acquisition student. Karla learned English when she was 8 years language. She feels that she would not have struggled as much had she learned English at an earlier age. Even though she learned English at a later age (well, sort of) she thinks in English and when she is reading and writing in Spanish she has to translate it mentally from English to Spanish. Karla mainly struggles when it comes to formal writing. It does not matter which language she is writing, she was never taught formal writing in school and it takes her awhile when it comes to school work and other areas in life that require formal writing. Interestingly, when she uses English or Spanish only for an extended period of time, she will begin to think in that language. So, her self monologue is interchangeable depending on what language she is communicating to people with. While that is the case, she typically thinks in English. Karl had help in her math and science classes during third and fourth grade which helped her learn English.
https://youtu.be/QhMIwk-UGkM
Karl is a second language acquisition student. Karla learned English when she was 8 years language. She feels that she would not have struggled as much had she learned English at an earlier age. Even though she learned English at a later age (well, sort of) she thinks in English and when she is reading and writing in Spanish she has to translate it mentally from English to Spanish. Karla mainly struggles when it comes to formal writing. It does not matter which language she is writing, she was never taught formal writing in school and it takes her awhile when it comes to school work and other areas in life that require formal writing. Interestingly, when she uses English or Spanish only for an extended period of time, she will begin to think in that language. So, her self monologue is interchangeable depending on what language she is communicating to people with. While that is the case, she typically thinks in English. Karl had help in her math and science classes during third and fourth grade which helped her learn English.
I love that Karla said that she doesn’t feel like she will ever know everything about English. This proves what was stated in our text that it take almost 7 years to fully acquire a new language (Wright, 2015). I also am always curious how people that know multiple languages think and translate from one language to the other. It may be that while an ELL is beginning to learn, they may need to translate everything. As the learners become more proficient they need to translate less frequently and are able to comprehend in English. The takeaway from this interview is that Karla doesn’t write in both languages. How can we approach second language learners in a way that fosters both languages in speaking, reading, and writing?
ReplyDeleteWright, E. W. (2015). Foundations of Teaching English Language Learners: Research, Theory, Policy, and Practice. Caslon Publishing.
I'm fluent in English and Spanish and I think/process in both languages(?) if that makes sense. I suppose I don't really translate anymore, not since primary school, I just comprehend the language I'm being spoken in. According to Wright, In order for student to meet both oral and written standards, teachers must develop a foundational understanding of language and language use (2015). Honestly, if it wasn't for the efforts of my elementary teacher I would still be struggling with my writing.
DeleteI've asked a lot of people that speak multiple languages which language they think with and have gotten numerous answers. I had a Spanish teacher in high school that was from Italy. She told me that she typically thought in Italian, but at times when she is speaking Spanish she will passively start thinking in English because she learned Spanish from an English speaking person. Usually the answer to my question is the dominant language the person uses, but sometimes I get some really odd responses.
ReplyDeleteI didn't think to ask the person i interviewed if they thought in English or their native language. When I'm thinking, I think in English mostly but it depends on what i'm looking at or what language I just spoke or heard. When I dream though, I tend to dream in Spanish however. Whenever i'm really tired or have drank too much, I tend to speak in Spanish as well.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I also agree with Karla when she says that she doesn't feel like she will ever know everything about English. I also tend to feel that same way. Sometimes I forget certain words and I struggle to remember them. Other times I struggle to say certain things. Like the words Graham, Salmon and Herb. I'll say them wrong and have to constantly remind myself how to actually say them correctly.
Thanks for sharing your perspective, Jeanette. It’s amazing how flexible we are as humans that we are able to switch back and forth. I didn’t think to ask my interviewee what language they think in or dream in either. I only know English and sometimes forget the words that I want to use, especially when writing, so don’t feel too bad. I heard a story from someone that knows siblings that speak 3 different languages. If one of them didn’t have a word for something in the current language they were speaking, they would throw in a word from another language. This caused them to rotate between 3 languages sometimes within the same sentence!
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