Comments on: Preschool + Language = Advantage http://feuerdorn88.edublogs.org/2007/10/21/preschool-language-advantage/ Just another Edublogs.org weblog Tue, 04 Dec 2007 10:26:54 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: » Comments Galore! Writer’s Block Demolition Site http://feuerdorn88.edublogs.org/2007/10/21/preschool-language-advantage/comment-page-1/#comment-19 » Comments Galore! Writer’s Block Demolition Site Tue, 04 Dec 2007 07:02:47 +0000 http://feuerdorn88.edublogs.org/2007/10/21/preschool-language-advantage/#comment-19 [...] Chris: http://feuerdorn88.edublogs.org/2007/10/21/preschool-language-advantage/#comment-15 [...] [...] Chris: http://feuerdorn88.edublogs.org/2007/10/21/preschool-language-advantage/#comment-15 [...]

]]> By: “Every student can learn, just not on the same day, or the same way.” George Evans | Comments… http://feuerdorn88.edublogs.org/2007/10/21/preschool-language-advantage/comment-page-1/#comment-18 “Every student can learn, just not on the same day, or the same way.” George Evans | Comments… Tue, 04 Dec 2007 05:15:38 +0000 http://feuerdorn88.edublogs.org/2007/10/21/preschool-language-advantage/#comment-18 [...] Chris  – Jamie (yeah, I made the same comment on two different blogs…oops!) [...] [...] Chris  – Jamie (yeah, I made the same comment on two different blogs…oops!) [...]

]]> By: rachelaren http://feuerdorn88.edublogs.org/2007/10/21/preschool-language-advantage/comment-page-1/#comment-17 rachelaren Tue, 04 Dec 2007 05:03:26 +0000 http://feuerdorn88.edublogs.org/2007/10/21/preschool-language-advantage/#comment-17 Earlier the better, absolutly! I will have to agree with Christina, as studies show, it is much easier for a young child to acquire a first or second language than for an adult to acquire one. Espically with the Spanish speaking community growing in leaps and bounds every year, this children will benefit from being able to communicate in both languages. Not to mention that it does, indeed, open up the door for future opportunities. I also think it's important that the studnets know their native language isn't being de-emphesized, and not give them a chance to feel inferrior to the other studnets. Earlier the better, absolutly! I will have to agree with Christina, as studies show, it is much easier for a young child to acquire a first or second language than for an adult to acquire one.

Espically with the Spanish speaking community growing in leaps and bounds every year, this children will benefit from being able to communicate in both languages. Not to mention that it does, indeed, open up the door for future opportunities.

I also think it’s important that the studnets know their native language isn’t being de-emphesized, and not give them a chance to feel inferrior to the other studnets.

]]> By: Christina http://feuerdorn88.edublogs.org/2007/10/21/preschool-language-advantage/comment-page-1/#comment-15 Christina Tue, 04 Dec 2007 02:28:30 +0000 http://feuerdorn88.edublogs.org/2007/10/21/preschool-language-advantage/#comment-15 I always think that the "earlier is better" method towards language is right on. It is, after all, much easier for a young child to acquire a first or second language than for an adult to acquire one. Linguistically, this school's method makes sense. I think they're going about it in entirely the right way. It is also really important for children (and adults) to take pride in their language. As a future English teacher, I think this is essential. It's much easier to enjoy and appreciate a language if you understand it and have made it your own. I also agree with Carrie. I think it a cryin' shame that I wasn't exposed to a different language before high school. Besides strengthening the appreciation for language in general, exposure to different languages is a gateway to exposure to different cultures and different ways of thinking. It promotes unity and awareness within and across barriers, which is always a good thing. I always think that the “earlier is better” method towards language is right on. It is, after all, much easier for a young child to acquire a first or second language than for an adult to acquire one. Linguistically, this school’s method makes sense. I think they’re going about it in entirely the right way. It is also really important for children (and adults) to take pride in their language. As a future English teacher, I think this is essential. It’s much easier to enjoy and appreciate a language if you understand it and have made it your own.
I also agree with Carrie. I think it a cryin’ shame that I wasn’t exposed to a different language before high school. Besides strengthening the appreciation for language in general, exposure to different languages is a gateway to exposure to different cultures and different ways of thinking. It promotes unity and awareness within and across barriers, which is always a good thing.

]]> By: » 10 posts Ignorance is Strength http://feuerdorn88.edublogs.org/2007/10/21/preschool-language-advantage/comment-page-1/#comment-8 » 10 posts Ignorance is Strength Sat, 01 Dec 2007 21:37:36 +0000 http://feuerdorn88.edublogs.org/2007/10/21/preschool-language-advantage/#comment-8 [...] 7. http://feuerdorn88.edublogs.org/2007/10/21/preschool-language-advantage/#comment-7 [...] [...] 7. http://feuerdorn88.edublogs.org/2007/10/21/preschool-language-advantage/#comment-7 [...]

]]> By: sapele110 http://feuerdorn88.edublogs.org/2007/10/21/preschool-language-advantage/comment-page-1/#comment-7 sapele110 Sat, 01 Dec 2007 17:40:46 +0000 http://feuerdorn88.edublogs.org/2007/10/21/preschool-language-advantage/#comment-7 I think that this is a great idea. It is important that children be exposed to the language as early as possible because studies show that the earilier the better. So in my opinion it only makes sense for more preschools to start focusing on teaching two languages. I do wonder though how much the students actually learn about english as their second language. In my position, as a college student, I tend to think of second language acquisition as something people my age do. Because of this I view it as something that requires a lot of high level thinking. But this view couldn't be further from the truth. Children have every cognitive ability to learn any language on the planet. So in closing I like this idea. Looking back on things, I would have liked to had been exposed to another language as a child. That way when I was required to learn another language it would have been easier and I would have been able to diver further into the language to learn more. I think that this is a great idea. It is important that children be exposed to the language as early as possible because studies show that the earilier the better. So in my opinion it only makes sense for more preschools to start focusing on teaching two languages.
I do wonder though how much the students actually learn about english as their second language. In my position, as a college student, I tend to think of second language acquisition as something people my age do. Because of this I view it as something that requires a lot of high level thinking. But this view couldn’t be further from the truth. Children have every cognitive ability to learn any language on the planet.
So in closing I like this idea. Looking back on things, I would have liked to had been exposed to another language as a child. That way when I was required to learn another language it would have been easier and I would have been able to diver further into the language to learn more.

]]> By: “Every student can learn, just not on the same day, or the same way.” George Evans | An attempt at critical pedagogy http://feuerdorn88.edublogs.org/2007/10/21/preschool-language-advantage/comment-page-1/#comment-6 “Every student can learn, just not on the same day, or the same way.” George Evans | An attempt at critical pedagogy Tue, 23 Oct 2007 19:11:52 +0000 http://feuerdorn88.edublogs.org/2007/10/21/preschool-language-advantage/#comment-6 [...] P.S. Here are my 3 replies:  Jonathon, Michael, Chris [...] [...] P.S. Here are my 3 replies:  Jonathon, Michael, Chris [...]

]]> By: Carrie Kirgis http://feuerdorn88.edublogs.org/2007/10/21/preschool-language-advantage/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Carrie Kirgis Tue, 23 Oct 2007 16:38:35 +0000 http://feuerdorn88.edublogs.org/2007/10/21/preschool-language-advantage/#comment-5 This reminds me of a discussion we had just yesterday in my child development class. Apparently, people who learn a second language at a very young age can master the language better than those who try to learn it later in life. This is because when a young child learns two languages simultaneously, the brain designates one common area that is shared by both languages. However, when a child learns one language at a young and then tries to learn another language later, the brain designates one area of the brain for the first language and then later designates a second area for that new language. The result is that the person will always have to translate when switching from one language to the other. But apparently, if they are both in the same area of the brain, no actual translating takes place. (Sorry if I worded that in a confusing way). I say all that to say that, yes, I agree that bilingual education in preschool is a good idea. In fact, considering what I now know about language development, I think it is probably more beneficial to have these language classes in preschool then in high school, which is when I (and I assume many of you) first tried to master a second language. I cant say that my two years of high school Spanish did me any good because I can’t remember any of it now. So maybe rather than just teaching Spanish to English speaking kids, we should also teach English to Spanish speaking kids. It can’t hurt, right? This reminds me of a discussion we had just yesterday in my child development class. Apparently, people who learn a second language at a very young age can master the language better than those who try to learn it later in life. This is because when a young child learns two languages simultaneously, the brain designates one common area that is shared by both languages. However, when a child learns one language at a young and then tries to learn another language later, the brain designates one area of the brain for the first language and then later designates a second area for that new language. The result is that the person will always have to translate when switching from one language to the other. But apparently, if they are both in the same area of the brain, no actual translating takes place. (Sorry if I worded that in a confusing way).

I say all that to say that, yes, I agree that bilingual education in preschool is a good idea. In fact, considering what I now know about language development, I think it is probably more beneficial to have these language classes in preschool then in high school, which is when I (and I assume many of you) first tried to master a second language. I cant say that my two years of high school Spanish did me any good because I can’t remember any of it now. So maybe rather than just teaching Spanish to English speaking kids, we should also teach English to Spanish speaking kids. It can’t hurt, right?

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