This volume chronicles a project that involved the staff and principals in the midwestern United States, in collaboration with a team of educational researchers. Included as chapters are qualitative studies of immersion teachers, analyses of the use of drama and children's literature, and discussions of staff preparation and maintenance for immersion schooling.
In this collection of articles, teachers bring students' home languages into their classrooms-from powerful bilingual social justice curriculum to strategies for honoring students' languages in schools that do not have bilingual programs. Bilingual educators and advocates share how they work to keep equity at the center and build solidarity between diverse communities. Teachers and students speak to the tragedy of languages loss, but also about inspiring work to defend and expand bilingual programs. Book jacket.
How can Americans make our country stronger, kinder, smarter? By marshaling our enviable can-do ethic and learning another language. We can do it, no matter what our age: author Steve Leveen chose Spanish as his adopted language in midlife. America's Bilingual Century is filled with tips for learning a language, some mechanical--like changing your phone and laptop settings to your adopted language--and some philosophical. For instance, start by having a place in your life where you'll use the language, Steve says. The "where" makes the "how" more attainable. And recognize that, as with any adoption, you do it for love, and for life--so don't fret when you're not fluent in five months. If you have kids, start them young. You'll be glad you did when you read about the explosive growth of dual language schools across the country and the significant, measurable advantages they give our young people. Steve also takes us to the top summer language immersion camps, for both children and adults. And he shares his findings from leading language scholars, teachers, sociolinguists, app creators, and bilinguals of all stripes that he discovered during his dozen years of research. Then he topples 12 myths about Americans and languages that no longer hold in this century. Like thinking the whole world speaks English (it doesn't), that being monolingual is natural (it isn't), and that Americans suck at language (quite the opposite, as he demonstrates). Here and now in the 21st century, America is embracing its many ethnic and cultural heritages. How natural, then, that we enfold the many languages that these heritages thrive on as part of that quintessentially American pursuit of happiness. If you've never thought of bilingualism as being a patriotic act, America's Bilingual Century may persuade you otherwise. Knowing a second language changes the way we perceive the world, and the way the world perceives us. "English is what unites us," Steve says. "Our other languages are what define and strengthen us." And even if becoming bilingual leans more toward aspiration than arrival, that's okay. The journey is as rewarding as the destination.
Discusses how school choice, misapplied standards of accountability, the No Child Left Behind mandate, and the use of a corporate model have all led to a decline in public education and presents arguments for a return to strong neighborhood schools and quality teaching.
How Languages Changed My Life is a collection of stories exploring the importance of languages in shaping the lives of individuals and communities around the world. It brings together writers and musicians, politicians and activists, teachers, students, scientists, comedians, and sportspeople whose experiences are both unique and exemplary. The first-person voices are conversational, intimate and uplifting, but also often very funny and deeply moving. This book is for anyone who loves real-life stories; is interested in languages, culture, and adventure; and believes in global citizenship. It embraces more than forty different languages and offers a kaleidoscope of individual views that collectively make the case for linguistic diversity being as essential to our survival as biodiversity. Irrespective of age and background, whether as first-time learners or professional polyglots, all our storytellers testify to how languages have inspired and empowered them. How Languages Changed My Life is a book for our times, reminding us that what we have in common is always greater than our differences.
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • For anyone who wants to learn a foreign language, this is the method that will finally make the words stick. “A brilliant and thoroughly modern guide to learning new languages.”—Gary Marcus, cognitive psychologist and author of the New York Times bestseller Guitar Zero At thirty years old, Gabriel Wyner speaks six languages fluently. He didn’t learn them in school—who does? Rather, he learned them in the past few years, working on his own and practicing on the subway, using simple techniques and free online resources—and here he wants to show others what he’s discovered. Starting with pronunciation, you’ll learn how to rewire your ears and turn foreign sounds into familiar sounds. You’ll retrain your tongue to produce those sounds accurately, using tricks from opera singers and actors. Next, you’ll begin to tackle words, and connect sounds and spellings to imagery rather than translations, which will enable you to think in a foreign language. And with the help of sophisticated spaced-repetition techniques, you’ll be able to memorize hundreds of words a month in minutes every day. This is brain hacking at its most exciting, taking what we know about neuroscience and linguistics and using it to create the most efficient and enjoyable way to learn a foreign language in the spare minutes of your day.
Language immersion is a remarkable educational opportunity in which young children acquire a second language beginning the first day of kindergarten. Students learn basic elementary school curriculum even though their teachers only speak to them in the language they are learning, not in English. Readers are encouraged to explore the goals, challenges, successes and lifetime benefits of immersion education through stories and statements gained through the survey of hundreds of former students, parents, and educators. The author helps us understand how immersion education not only offers students fluency in both English and a second language but also develops global and cultural understanding that positively impacts students as they launch into the world. Dr. Mellgren has over 40 years of experience in education with most of that time spent working with immersion programs as teacher, parent, administrator, researcher, consultant, and advocate. She shares from those varying perspectives to give insight into the full immersion spectrum. This guide provides information to help the decision-making process prior to entering an immersion program and then continues with insight into the first year of school, development through the elementary grades, and the transitions and in middle and high school. Experiences shared by students and parents encompass kindergarten through high school graduation, as well as the entire family's lifestyle. Discover tips for helping with schoolwork, assisting struggling learners, and participating fully in the immersion school experience. Immersion education becomes a gift to a child that lasts a lifetime. It impacts everything about a child's personal growth-brain development, social skills, academic advantages, and acceptance of individual differences. Young immersion students become adults who are adaptable and successful in an ever-increasing global world where understanding and relating to others is critical. This book will help you understand the language immersion concept, guide you in enrolling in a program, and then assist you in navigating the path through the language immersion life. "This book is a valuable contribution to the field and to every parent considering or experiencing immersion for their child." - Dr. Carol Ann Dahlberg, co-author, Languages and Children: Making the Match
Aimed at facilitating cross-context dialogue & knowledge exchange, this volume brings together an international roster of scholars to offer theoretical perspectices, research reviews & empirical studies on teaching, learning & language development in immersion education.
