Bridging Between Languages

Bridging Between

Languages

Concepts and Definitions

Bridging: the process of transitioning from learning onelanguagetoanother.

• Early-exit transition. The mother tongue or L1 is themediumof instruction(MO1for2-3years, thenswitchtoL2and/orL3asMO1

• Late-exit transition. The mother tongue or L1 is themedium of instruction for 5-6 years or more, thenswitchtoL2and/orL3asanMO1.

• Mother tongue. The language(s) that one haslearnedfirst

- - referred to as first language(L1), homelanguageor

heritagelanguage.

• Mother-tongue-based multilingualeducation

Learner-centered, active basiceducation which starts in the mothertongue and gradually introduces one ormore other languages in a structuralmanner, linked to children’sunderstanding in their first language ormother tongue.

Multilingual education

Adopted in 1999 in UNESCO’sGeneral Conference Resolution 12; theterm refers to the use of at least threelanguages.

Ui brad ! Akotuod si Totoy.

Second language (L2)

- a second language learned after L1

- a second language learned at school forformal educational purposes.

Difference between language and

dialect

From the linguistic point ofview, the distinction betweenlanguage and dialect emphasizesintelligibility.

Benefits of MTBMLE

- There is ample research showing thatstudents are quicker to learn to read andwrite and acquire academic skills when firsttaught in their mother tongue or L1.

- They learn second language more quickly thanthose initially taught to read in an unfamiliarlanguage.

-

MTBMLE programs benefit studentswho do not understand or speakthe official/ school language whenthey begin their education.

Three kinds of development

1. Language developmentStudents develop fluency and confidence in

understanding, speaking, reading, writing,viewing and thinking in their first language andthen transfer those abilities to the official/school language for communication andlifelong learning.

2. Academic development

Students achieve the required academiccompetencies in each subject at the end ofthe MTBMLE program.

3. Socio-cultural development

Students are proud of their heritage languageand culture and respect the language and culture ofothers. When they complete their education, theyare equipped to contribute actively to thedevelopment of their home, community and to thenation of which they are part.

Components of MTBMLE

Strong foundation

Research show that children who starteducation in the language of their hometend to do better in the later years of theireducation ( Thomas and Collier, 1997).

Good bridge

Well-planned transition from learningthrough the mother tongue or L1 to learningthrough other language(s) results in betterlearning outcomes.

K Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6

Build oral L1 & confidence

Continueoral & literacy in L1 Filipino

Continueoral & literacy in L1

Continueoral & literacy in L1

Continueoral & literacy in L1 (Filipino)



Begin L1 literacy(reading and writing)

Continue oral L2 (English)

Begin oral L2 English

Begin L2 literacy 4th

quarter (English)

Continue oral & literacy L2 (English)

Continue oral & literacy in L2




Use L1 as LO1

Use L1 as LO1 in all subjects

Use L1 as LO1 in all subjectsIncluding science

Use Filipino as LO1 in Esp, Ap, Filipino, MAPEH, EPP.Use English (L2) in Math, Science, English (TLE in Grade 6)

K Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6

Oral L1 (semester)

Continue oral L1 semester 1

Begin L1

Literacy semester 1

Continue oral & literacy in L1 & L2

Introduce reading & writing

Begin oral L2

Semester 1

Quarter 2

Continue oral L3

Continue oral & literacy in L1, L2 & L3




(emergent literacy) semester

Begin oral L3Quarter 3-4Bridge to L2 literacyQuarter 4

Bridge to L3 literacy

Quarter 4

Filipino (L2) LO1 AP, EsP, EPP, MAPEH in Filipino

English (L3) LO1 Math, in English Science

L1 as LO1 L1, as LO1 L1 as LO1 L1 as LO1 in all subjects including science

L2-L1L2L3 to L1To L3

To check comprehension

L2-L1-L2L3-L1-L3

Kumusta? Akonga pala si

Tonio.

What does research

say about this?

Following are some researchstudies relating to MTBMLE, first andsecond language acquisition, andlanguage development.

Hi !!! My name is Tony.

The most powerful factor in predicting educationalsuccess for minority learners is the amount of formalschooling they received in their L1. only thoselanguage minority students who have 5-6 years ofstrong cognitive and academic development in theirL1 as well as through L2 did well in Grade IIassessment.

- Thomas and Collier 2001

Knowledge gained in one language transfers toother languages that we learn.

- Cummins, J

The level of development of the children’smother tongue is a strong predictor of their secondlanguage development.

- Thomas and Collin, 2001

Children … with a solid foundation in theirmother tongue develop stronger literacyabilities in the school language. Children’sknowledge and skills transfer across languagesfrom the mother tongue… to the schoollanguage.

- Cummins, J. 2000

The development of the child’s first language with itsrelated cognitive development is more importantthan the mere length of exposure to the secondlanguage; development of the mother tongue iscritical for cognitive development and as a basis forlearning the second language.

- Tucker, G. R., 1990

The first language is the language of learning. It is byfar the easiest way for children to interact with theworld. And when the language of learning and thelanguage of instruction do not match, learningdifficulties are bound to follow.

- World Bank, 2006

On the importance of Oral

Language:

Oral language is the foundation of learning to readand write. The initial stages, reading builds on an orallanguage. Any reading program designed to buildearly reading skills must offer support for andconnections to an oral vocabulary in a spokenlanguage.

- Rashos et al., 2000

Planning a “strong foundation and a

good bridge”. What theorists and

researchers say Building a strong foundation in L1.

• Knowledge gained in one languagetransfers to other language that we learn.-Cummins

• The most powerful factor in predictingeducational success for minoritylearners is the amount of formalschooling they received in their L1…only those language minority studentswho had 5-6 years of strong cognitiveand academic development in the L1 –as well as through L2 – did well in grade11.

–`Thomas and Collier, 2001

Introducing the L2 through

listening and responding (no speaking

at first)• The best (language learning) methods are: those that supply

“comprehensible input” in low anxiety situations, containingmessages that students really want to hear. These messages donot force early production in the L2 but allow students toproduce when they are ‘ready’, recognizing that improvementcomes from forcing and correcting production.

- Krasher, 1981 &Wilson, 2001

Education

Bridging Between Languages