Embracing L1
This lesson deals with the benefits of bilingualism and allows for students to further explore their bilingualism and how it can be utilized within the classroom.
Representation Within US School and Society
This lesson is meant to raise awareness for injustices in the school system, especially relating to minority cultures and languages. Students will have a chance to learn about these injustices and make arguments agains them.
Cultural Exchange
This lesson is a way for students to learn more about their classmate's cultures. Ideally students will be able to make use of Adobe Spark and upload videos about their partner's show and tell items.
Additional Resources
Although all second language learners are emerging bilinguals, the concept of bilingualism is not often taught amongst these students unless they themselves are in a bilingual program.This unit was designed specifically for ESL learners in the United States, because unlike other countries where bilingualism is normal and accepted, there are a lot of misconceptions about using multiple languages in American classrooms. Many school boards are supporters of English-only education, which is often taken to the extreme, preventing students from saying anything at all in a language other than English. Although it may seem this is beneficial for learning, it is in fact proven to be less effective than allowing students to use the full extent of their linguistic resources. For this reason, the unit is meant to raise awareness of unjust treatment of English language learners, allow students to explore their own languages and cultures, and introduce some bilingual activities into the classroom.
Bi-/Multilingualism is the concept of being fluent in two or more languages.
Most second language learners fall into the category of an emerging bilingual
Emerging Bilingual - A student with a potential/on the path to become bilingual
Within the ESL community in the United States, emerging bilingual has become a new phrase to refer to ELL's (English Language Learners) as it is more inclusive and promotes the idea of being able to speak two languages, instead of replacing their home language with English.
For additional information check out the additional resources page linked below.