Blog 4- Course Reflection
The Course The art of second language never ceases to amaze me. I have attempted to learn a second language myself and have taken a Second Language Methodology course. Both of these have taught me a lot about the depths of second language. However, after taking this course, Second Language Acquisition, I can see that second language has so many subtopics that I never knew about. For, there is a lot of research behind how we as humans best acquire a second or additional language. This information helps me better understand how my ELL students learn English. For example, I learned that “…learners who begin acquiring the L2 before a certain age, which these studies locate to be around puberty, will tend to exhibit intuitions that are very close to those of native speakers of that language” (Ortega, 2011). This explains why some of my third grade ELL students do not have an accent. This is just one example of t...
Hello Kaela, I like your very interesting blog about a second language acquisition, especially as you greeted us, as well as bid us goodbye, in Spanish. I basically have a limited exposure to the acquisition of a second language which may be of substantial value to me. I certainly wish that you successfully complete your studies as you desire, and hopefully we do get to know each other. Like you, I speak only English, and had a short encounter with this subject in secondary school, where it was more teacher centered, as you suggested. I also agree that the best way to learn a second language is to intermix with the Spanish language speakers. You will become a great ELL teacher. Susan.
ReplyDeleteYes, Susan, studies have shown that children who are bilingual tend to be extremely successful in academics. In order to become bilingual, however, one must learn two languages from the ages of 18 months to three or four. I feel as if being bilingual would be beneficial. Although we have missed our chance to be bilingual, we can certainly do our best in acquiring a second language.
DeleteNice to have you in my class again. I I am confident that this class will allow you to further your knowledge in SLA and the key role that you will play in your students’ linguistic development. It is very interesting that you have invested several years to learn a foreign language. What factor do you consider has impacted the learning of foreign language the most? Do you consider Spanish a foreign or a second language in Texas? Why do you think that despite several years of construction in other languages, high school students remain monolingual by the most part?
ReplyDeleteWelcome back this semester, hope you had a great break. I think it is awesome you were able to actually learn Spanish in school after taking it for so many years. You are also lucky that your teacher taught you using the grammar translation method. According to Ortega, since you learned a second language in school, “instructed learners learn additional languages through formal study in school or university” (Ortega. 2011. Pg, 6). However, since your family speaks Spanish, you have the added advantage of still practicing your Spanish. Even though you may not be fluent in Spanish, it still gives you an added advantage once you become a teacher.
ReplyDeleteOrtega, Lourdes. Second Language Acquisition. London: Routledge, 2011. Print
Thank you for your reply, Jess. Ortega states, “Language teachers across institutions all over the world hotly debate whether students in their classrooms need to be directly taught grammar and vocabulary in order to get the basic building blocks of a language first…” (Ortega, 2011). In my personally opinion, strict grammar translation teaching is not the way to teach a foreign language, for I did not learn Spanish as well as I could have.
DeleteOrtega, L. (2011). Understanding second language acquisition. London and New York: Routledge.
Kaela,
ReplyDeleteI loved watching your video! I loved hearing about your second language, Spanish! I learned Spanish both, in school and from my mother so it was cool hearing someone else learn Spanish in school and all the ways in which it has helped you! I honestly think learning any new language is hard but learning it, and practicing it on your own is incredible! I always had the help of my mother at home whenever I was stuck or anything so I commend you. A naturalistic learner learns through informal opportunities without receiving any organized instruction and an instructed learner learns through schooling. (Ortega.2011.pg.6). I believe the way you learned and the way you are continuing to learn to help your future students is admirable! Good job and very nice video!
Ortega, Lourdes. Second Language Acquisition. London: Routledge, 2011. Print
Thank you so much, Jolie. Would you say that you grew up bilingual or as a second language learner? In the first few chapters of the textbook, Ortega discusses the difference of the two. I had never considered those two terms being different before reading the text. I would call myself a developing second language acquirer because I did not grow up in a home that spoke two languages simultaneously when I was a little girl.
DeleteKaela,
ReplyDeleteI am glad to have a class with you again this semester and know we will successfully pass all of our class and graduate together in May! I really enjoyed watching your video and learned many new things about you as well. I think you are very talented and like to overtake any challenge that may come across your way. Because you have been learning a second language for many years which is not easy at all since English was your first language around your family. But to take the additional step to learn another language is a great thing to let everyone know. According to researchers, "Many language teachers make a sharp distinction between foreign and second
language teaching and are mystified when they realize the same distinction is often
obliterated in SLA studies, as if learning contexts were of little consequence." (Ortega. 2011. Pg.6). I think the researchers are right because the more the teachers know and know the differences in foreign and second languages then they can make a difference within the students life as well and help them learn many new languages as well. And thats what your past teachers have done to help you learn another language. I also think that you will carry the same values as well to make a difference in your future students life as well. Hope you have a great semester!
Yes, Seemin. You touched on a point that Ortega brings up about the distinction between a “second language” and a “foreign language.” He says, “It is important to realize that in SLA the term ‘second’ is often used to mean either a second of foreign language and often both” (Ortega, 2011). Have you ever thought these two terms were different? I always thought they meant the same thing.
DeleteOrtega, L. (2011). Understanding second language acquisition. London and New York: Routledge.
Hi Kaela,
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting that many of us had our first interaction with a second language as high schoolers. You mentioned that you took Spanish in high school and in college. Norman Doidge states in the video, "Why is Learning a New Language Harder After Childhood," that we only get better at what we practice. I thought it fascinating that we usually start a new language long after childhood, when our brains already have the neurons pathways built that would prevent ease of learning a new language. Ortega mentions this hotly debated subject in chapter two of his text. He states that some in the field of SLA believe that "the other issue relates to the possibility that there may be a ceiling to L2 learning, in the sense that it may be impossible to develop levels of L2 competence that are isomorphic to the competence all humans possess in their own mother tongue" (Ortega, 2009, p. 12). I believe that we all would benefit from learning multiple languages at a young age rather than the standard high school age that is the norm in America. I also believe that we would profit from having teachers instruct with other methods besides the Grammar Translation Method. True immersion in schools would help with the issue that most second language learners end up being monolingual after all of the schooling.
Wonderful blog entry! Very nicely done.
Thank you for your reply, Celisha. You bring up a great point about learning an L2 long after childhood from the Ortega textbook. Based on my own experience and others’ experiences, I would have to agree with Ortega in that there may be a “ceiling” to learning a second language. However, I knew this girl in high school who told me that she went to Ecuador for a summer not knowing much Spanish, but then came back being able to speak it fluently. If only schools could literally put their L2 students in a Spanish speaking environment. That’s what I’ve also come to find: if you don’t have to really use your L2, you won’t learn to speak it fluently.
DeleteHello Kaela,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy watching your video. I believe that the level of difficulty of learning new languages may vary depending on several factors. I also understand how complex is the process of learning the Spanish language. However, I also think that we are capable to learn any new language if we have a persistence attitude, and you are a perfect example of this. After watching your introduction in the video, I could notice your great Spanish speaking skills. You are a clear example of Ortega words which states, “One way to investigate human’ capacities for learning second languages is to inspect the oral and written records learners produce when people use the new language.”
Ortega, L. (2011). Understanding second language acquisition. London and New York:
Routledge.