Windesheim

Early English

Bilingual education in a linguistically homogeneous environment.

by Carly KleinThe Netherlands

Programme

Acquiring mother tongue, a second or third language, how?

Bilingualism, advantages (and disadvantages) of bilingual education

Language acquisition, successive or simultaneous

Acquiring mother tongue, a second or third language, how?

Mother Tongue

Input influences sound perception/observation

< 6 months universal

reacts to sounds from different languages

> 6 months specific language

reacts to own sound system

First years of a child’s life

Learning development of memory

Language input feeding the memory

Both vocabulary, grammar, rules of a language

Stimulating language use

Listen first to the child and then use this information for communication

Expanding meaning of words Modelling and correcting of words Reading Singing

What you should not do!

Have children repeat what you say.

Have children name some objects e.g. in a book

Bilingualism, advantages (and disadvantages) of bilingual education

What is bilingualism?

The use of more than one language

The ability to communicate naturally and fluently in more than one language in all areas of life

(Somewhere in between this we want to see our children, this development is a process)

Benefits of bilingualism

Communication advantages: it helps building relationships

Cultural advantages: a broader cultural understanding

Cognitive advantages: it supports cognitive flexibility

Personal advantages: it raises self esteem

Language acquisition, successive or simultaneous

Bilingualism

Simultaneous language acquisition

0-7 years of age: 2 languages at the same time

law of Grammont

Successive language acquisition

>10 years of age: learning a 2nd language

Cummins hypothesis (Iceberg)

Simultaneous language acquisition

0-7 years of age 2 or more languages on offer Spontaneous process No language/grammar/pronunciation lessons Reading, rhyming, singing, naming

Law of Grammont

Each parent should speak his/her own language

Clear situation

Clear moment

Successive language acquisition > 10 years of age

Translation process

Thinking process

Cummins hypothesis (Iceberg theory)

The theory is that the second language will make use of the first language, the mother tongue. For this the level and skills of the first language are essential.

Research in Brussels

Positive results of bilingualism can be seen on brainscans. Researchers gave children simple assignments. The scans show a significant difference between monolinguals and bilinguals.

Brains of the monolinguals show a clear effort, while the brain of bilinguals show no effort at all. The brain activity of children who attend bilingual schools lies somewhere in between those extremes.

This proves that bilingualism has a favourable effect on the brain capacity.

All in all:

Bilingualism is worthwhile when: offered spontaneously taught by the same person situated at clear moments taught by qualified teachers

Just do it!