Teaching of Bilingual Children

Requirement

The teaching of bilingual children observed in a school setting Assignment.

Solution

Abstract

The bilingual parents are seen to be vocal regarding their desire for raising their proficient bilingual children. These kids have questions and answers quickly. But the history of raising children in the bilingual households is very complicated. Extensive studies have suggested many benefits that arise from being bilingual. This fact is also beneficial for the monolingual children present in the classroom as these children can gain insights into another culture. However, there are very fewer sources and researches to prove the points made. This study studies the teaching of bilingual children observed in the school settings and analyzes the specific needs of all the bilingual pupils and also recommends the teaching strategies that are identified in the selected policy document while reflecting at various theories and recent research evidence.

Students can get assistance with any type of English homework assignment at Allassignmenthelp.com. We have thousands of professional experts on our website who are the best at providing English dissertation help and essay assignment help. So, without any delay place your order and score the best grades.

Introduction

The term bilingualism refers to using two languages in the day to day life. Bilingualism has become very common and has been rising in various parts of the world, and it is estimated that around one in three people are bilingual or even multilingual (Wei, 2000). The contact between the languages has been seen in various parts of the world which include Asia (India, Philippines), Europe (Switzerland, Belgium), North America (Canada) and Africa (Senegal, South Africa).  Especially in the United States, growing number of bilinguals reside in Texas, California, Florida, Arizona, new York and New Mexico. It is estimated that by 2035, around 50% of children who are enrolled in kindergarten would grow up speaking more than one language (García, McLaughlin, Spodek, & Saracho, 1995). At the same time, the urban areas of Canada are expected to have around 50% of students speak a language (mostly, native) other than English (Canadian Council on Learning, 2008).
Bilingual education has been organized into four categories namely: linguistic growth, effective development, cognitive development, and cultural enrichment. Blanco (1977) noted that the experts in the field of bilingual education believe that the primary objectives of this education are especially in the area of affective and cognitive development instead of the cultural and linguistic realms. This can help to assume that the main objective of bilingual education is not to teach second or English language but for teaching the children various concepts, skills and knowledge through the use of language that these kids know the best and also reinforcing this data and information through the use of the second language. Anderson and Boyer (1970) had emphasized this strategy while jotting down their definition of bilingual education:
Bilingual education can be presented as a new way to conceive the entire range of education and especially for the non-English child who have just entered the school. Bilingual learning necessitates the reexamination of the entire curriculum in terms of the best instruments for learning, of his readiness for learning various subjects, and his own identity and potential for improvement and development. (Bialystok, E., & Martin, M.,2004).
A bilingual program that has a transitional cultural, as well as linguistic goal, is the once where the native language as well as culture is used for the student only in a manner where the child acquires English and therefore functions in the regular curriculum of the school. This program does not focus primarily on the native language of the children and therefore does not let the student teach regarding reading and writing of the native language. (Smith, K., 2002).
English-language procurement is likewise emphasized in a bilingual system with cultural as well as linguistic maintenance, additionally promotes the values of cultural and linguistic diversity. Youngsters are urged towards becoming a literate in their local dialect and for developing bilingual attitudes all through their school life and even in their adult years. This transitional way towards bilingual education has been given support by the federal and states legislation, although various districts also go beyond the legislature and have used local resources for implementing the maintenance program, especially for the language-minority students.
This essay talks about the teaching of bilingual youngsters that were seen in the classroom in educational practice. The paper will further talk about the policies and how various theories are connected especially in the practical setting. It utilizes the recommend strategies provided in the Dfes archive as a guide and will allude to the observation that was done and utilize the suggestions for enhancing the work. (DfE strategy 2015-2020 World-class education and care, 2016)

Discussion

It has been estimated that the knowledge of two languages can help to provide a head start towards learning of other languages (Jessner, 2008) as this can help to enable the children for thinking about the other languages (Castro et al. 2011). All the subject matter is taught using a language in school, therefore, the child should possess a high level of proficiency especially in the language of teaching which is considered to be a valuable asset.
When the children learn more than one dialect, it leads to increase the chances of communication with a more extensive assortment of individuals, at a nearby and worldwide level (Baker, 2000) and a valuation for various cultures and societies, which could prompt multicultural resistance (Eurydice, 2009).
Teachers can utilize systems and various strategies for making the learning environment in school as steady and supportive as possible for a proper language development. These can also include various strategies that can help to enable the pupil for using and building their existing knowledge as well as skills and further provides the various opportunities for using first languages and visual support along with opportunities for learning from others and can also help to plan the opportunities to speak, listen and learn.  The new arrivals in the schools who have developed their literacy skills in their first language can exchange these aptitudes and skills which can frequently close all the gaps with their English primary language peers and accomplish age-related national educational modules levels rapidly. There are numerous situations where students who arrive late to their secondary school and find themselves new to English accomplish decent results at their GCSE. (Hurtado, N., Grüter, T., Marchman, V. A., & Fernald, A.,2013).
In regards to the essay, the main observation was given to the school students with pupils who had EAL or English as addition language. When the class is taught by a teacher who is different bilingual outcomes are seen as compared to the teacher who herself is a uses EAL. There will be a good interaction between the students with both the teachers and yet both classrooms can be seen to have the different atmosphere on being closely observed.
The stagiest from the Dfes report stated that the kids had the chance to talk in their particular dialects, and the educator was likewise addressing them in their own dialect also. This helped the youngsters to communicate more proficiently as they could comprehend the all the tasks and activities assigned to them. This urged the kids for approaching the instructor and for asking their teachers all the topics they could not understand in the class. All of the kids present on the table can come up to their educator in her group without any hesitation. However, it can be seen that the main teachers who can talk more effectively and proficiently as compared to the EAL teacher as the main teacher were able to communicate in the in a better way in desirable language, however, the EAL teacher can only communicate in English. (Kluger, J.,2013)
Although both the concerned groups can be asked to perform same activity, it would be quite evident that the group with the main teacher is seen to be very friendly while the group with EAL teacher is seen to be strict and much more professional. Therefore, it can be seen that the employment of the teacher who has the ability to speak several languages would be better for the school. Or else the school must provide better training courses to their students where the staff would also acquire the opportunity for learning various languages. 
Further, it must also be asserted that the teacher must use the theory of Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills (BICS) where she should use her facial expressions as well as body language for making their students understand in a better way all the activities been undergoing in the class. Baker (2006) has explained BICS is a split for all the pupils for making them understand and to help them in communicating and comprehend everything. If the same work is assigned to the EAL teacher and EAL children, they would have to use books for understanding the concepts in a better manner. Thus, the children who were made to comprehend using the theory of BICS and the EAL students can adopt different studying patterns which would mean that there would be a minimal interaction between the students.
BISC as well as Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency (CALP) examines that BISC is said to happen in the case of contextual support as well as props for delivery of the language along with face-to-face settings in the teaching styles, for example, non-verbal input like head gesturing and eye-contact. Whereas CALP is said to take place along with reduced educational circumstances in the cases where high-level thinking is needed.
It is seen that the children have the feeling of proud while addressing their native language and its legacy. Using this as a strategy, teachers for primary classes can teach their children by using various books and colorful visuals which can make the class look more inviting and life-like.  However, the same strategy cannot be used by the teacher of a higher-level class, therefore, they can utilize posters in various languages like presenting numbers and months in different languages to the class.
Similarly, the teachers can adopt a strategy by asking the parents of their student to interact with their children and enhance their linguistics skills. The parents can be asked to aid their students especially the ones whose mother language is not English and can provide their kids with dual books for reading and help them understand and be acquainted with the other language. This strategy can also be applied to the Threshold by Cummins 1977 theory, according to which the bilingual needs are very important for achieving the high level of proficiency in the linguistic skills before the bilingualism can help to promote cognitive development.  According to Lina, (1992) the theory can be utilized as a part of the classroom in relation to the school kids, in light of the fact that as per the threshold theory, the kids in primary classes are able to cope up with their bilingual curriculum, but they still require an assistance from their teacher for a better understanding. 
With this the guardians can enhance the ability of their children by reading along with them on a daily basis and further helping them to comprehend the words that they are not aware of, additionally, the guardians must be permitted to take with them the dual books which should be given to them from the school for helping to understand and improve the kids' capacity. Nonetheless, there are might be some guardians whose English might not be that great, therefore, these parents must be prescribed to hire an assistant or a tutor for their children who can decipher and after that can help these kids to help the guardians too.
Cummins (1986) report clarifies that guardians cooperating with the kid would be able to communicate effectively with their kids and therefore can support them. Subsequently, can help to construct better cooperation amongst schools and the guardians.
In spite of the fact that kids being bilingual are very common to be seen, it must be noticed that specific strategies and policies along with expectations from the government can't be satisfied or have the capacity to achieve the objective. For instance, in the criteria of evaluation, it can be seen that the instructors are more centered on comparing the marks for making inclusive elucidation because of the pattern of examination set by the educational government. 
Another strategy that can be adopted by observing that the children use their first languages as well as English during their learning stages. This can lead to code mixing, and also, code-switching of their languages and the student ends up talking in both the languages to their friends and teachers. Therefore, code switching and code mixing in children help them to use both the languages for helping them to learn and understand the words that were being taught to them. With this strategy, the children can automatically learn what is being taught to them. When the teacher uses the strategy of code switching and code mixing, she/ he can encourage its students for understanding the requirements of the tasks of the activities. The teacher should encourage them, EAL students, to talk in the different language without any hesitation.
What different aptitudes that could be very valuable in relation to assisting the youngsters could be that the teacher should always attempt to energize as well as encourage her class kids who are not able to converse well in English and can help him by getting them an accomplice who can talk in an effective English and would help his partner and would assist them to improve their vocabulary and speaking skills. This would then imply that the kids would have the capacity to aid and assist each other out and would likewise increase peer interactions. (Thordardottir, E.,2011)
Additionally, the educator should mind her gesture while teaching her students.  It was seen that the teachers who teach their students with care and seem more maternal like, can help the youngsters to feel “more at home” feeling by giving them embraces and empowering them at whatever point they accomplish something right. This methodology always has a positive effect, and those kids who are present in such teacher’s classes are seen to be more confident and extroverts. Nevertheless, the children are also seen to be quite serious with such teachers and, the educator always seem to energize them by providing verbal feedbacks by embracing them when they do well.
The other instructional strategies that the teachers can use for enhancing the development of, bi-literacy bilingualism and academic achievement include integration of the content instructions and the language while taking the lessons. This can help the children to acquire a higher understanding of the content along with being aware of the other language. Further, the teachers can utilize sheltered instruction strategies like building on prior knowledge as well as utilizing various routines and structures, for facilitating comprehension and also the promotion of the development of the second language. 
Another strategy that can be adopted into the curriculum of the students is that the instruction can be geared towards the needs of both second language learners as well as the native speakers when these students are integrated for giving the concerned instruction. Further the incorporation of technology like multimedia presentations while teaching along with the use of the internet while delivering the instruction. This can make the class interactive and as well as informational for the students. Finally the staff as well as the teachers need to coordinate their instruction along with the dual language approaches while teachers. 
This will create eagerness in the students and from these activities the EAL and the native language speakers can interact to question their doubts and discuss regarding their classes which would give them an opportunity for understanding the whole process and can enhance their skills and aptitude. All the policies have been enforced by the government. Therefore the educators are always expected for reaching the high level of their curriculum. This factor sometimes remains hindered due to varying learning ability of the children and the children find it hard for understanding the whole lecture that was taken in their class and therefore they find it impossible for developing their languages. 

Conclusion

Taking everything into account, it appears that youngsters who are bilingual have numerous chances for realizing when they are in the most youthful setting of the class as compared with the students in the upper level of schools. Youngsters are presently given more chances to learn as schools have been providing help books like dual books where the kids have the chances to bring these dual books to home with them so that their guardians can likewise help them to learn, and those guardians themselves can teach themselves using those books in case the parents are not able to communicate in English also. Utilizing visual guides and facial expressions on the youngsters appear to encourage them for comprehending what the educators are teaching them and that it is additionally helping them to comprehend what their daily activities and tasks are requesting. Another issue is that in view of less parental interactions is taking place in the upper years’ student and these the youngsters don't get the advantage that they may need. This implied the kids would then need to search for more backing from the educators, though if there were parental help, it would then lead to the reduction of the responsibility of the teacher and after that the students would have the capacity to get more balanced backing. It should be viewed as that there are numerous things that happen amid prior and then afterward the class, so it should be viewed as this is a preview of what happens in the classroom.

Place Order For A Top Grade Assignment Now

We have some amazing discount offers running for the students

Place Your Order

References

  • DfE strategy 2015-2020 World-class education and care. (2016). 1st ed. [ebook] UK. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/508421/DfE-strategy-narrative.pdf [Accessed 10 May 2016].

  • Smith, K. (2002). How to support the needs of bilingual pupils. Early Years Educator, 3(10), pp.14-17.

  • García, E. E., McLaughlin, B., Spodek, B., & Saracho, O. N. (1995). Yearbook of Early Childhood Education: Meeting the Challenge and Cultural Diversity in Early Childhood Education. Vol. VI. New York: Teachers College Press.

  • Canadian Council on Learning. (2008). Understanding the academic trajectories of ESL students. Retrieved from http://www. ccl-cca.ca/pdfs/LessonsInLearning/Oct-02- 08-Understanding-the-acedemic.pdf

  • Wei, L. (2000). Dimensions of bilingualism. In L. Wei (Ed.), The bilingualism reader (pp. 3–25). New York: Routledge.

  • Kluger, J. (2013, July). The power of the bilingual brain. TIME Magazine.

  • Thordardottir, E. (2011). The relationship between bilingual exposure and vocabulary development. International Journal of Bilingualism, 15(4), 426–445. doi:10.1177/ 1367006911403202

  • Jessner, U. (2007). Teaching third languages: Findings, trends and challenges. Language Teaching, 41(01).

  • Andersson T., Boyer M. R. Definitions of Bilingual Education. Bilingual Education in the United States. Washington DC.; U.S. Government Printing Office, 1970: 70.

  • Blanco, G. (1977). Bilingual Education: Current Perspectives. Arlington, Va.: Center for Applied Linguistic

  • Baker, E. (1992). “Issues in Policy, Assessment, and Equity.” Proceedings of the Second National Research Symposium on Limited English Proficient Student Issues: Focus on Evaluation and Measurement. (pp. 1–19). Washington, D.C.: United States Department of Education Office of Bilingual Education and Minority Languages Affairs.

  • Bialystok, E., & Martin, M. (2004). Attention and inhibition in bilingual children: Evidence from the dimensional change card sort task. Developmental Science, 7(3), 325–339. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2004.00693.x

  • Hurtado, N., Grüter, T., Marchman, V. A., & Fernald, A. (2013). Relative language exposure, processing efficiency and vocabulary in Spanish–English bilingual toddlers. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, 1–14. doi:10.1017/S136672891300014X

Get Quality Assignment Without Paying Upfront

Hire World's #1 Assignment Help Company

Place Your Order