Raising a Bilingual Child at Ridgecrest Elementary

Beginning Conversations

2/15/11

Many Starting Points “Heritage” language has come to mean

the home language or native language of individuals who speak a language other than the one spoken in society.

Many English speaking families are choosing to become bilingual as members of a global culture.

First Languages In a perfect world, first languages would

be considered sources of pride and cultural identity for children living in two cultures.

However for many children, first languages are not esteemed and proficiencies are not considered strengths.

Bilingualism & Mental Flexibility

Studies have shown that children who can work and think in two languages are often more mentally flexible.

Language Foundation

A strong developing foundation in a primary language, aids a child in the acquisition of a second language.

Important Foundation

Hence, child who continues to develop in a heritage language, will learn English better than a child who stops developing in that heritage language to enter an English-language school environment.

Five to Seven Years

A range of five to seven years is key for children to sufficiently learn a second language such that they can write, think, and problem solve in the second language.

Full Circle Baby books reinforce the importance of

talking to our children, and research in bilingualism supports the same theme.

“In whatever language, talk to your child. Use language. Discuss current events. Play games. Read books.”

“I don’t assign homework” A teacher friend in Tijuana, Mexico,

asserts that homework in his community is counter-productive to the needs of his students.

“They need to discuss life, hear their parents’ viewpoints and interpretations of current events, as well as share values.”

Self-Awareness of Children - Bilingual or Not

Who am I? How do I fit in? What are my skills? What goals can I

have?

Intentional Involvement

Many children can converse in a

heritage language, but can’t write or read

in it.

“The Dual Language Project” is

intentional in the process of sharing the

written word.

Scope of the Project Participants meet

over a period of six sessions to work as parent and child on their own heritage language work.

Each session is approximately one and a half hours long.

A Table of Contents

This gives you a sense of the topics covered in the workshop.

Topics Covered in Two Languages Name Stories I Am From Poems Oral Histories Personal Assets Future Goals Letter from Someone Special & Project

Evaluation

Connections

Parents and children interview family or community members.

Empowerment and Voice

Why Pursue This?

So our children can

embrace their own

Identities.