Interconnection model in multilingual writing
Language multi-competence reflects different types of relationships between languages in the mind of a multilingual writer. Cook (2002, 2003) identifies three models: the separation model, the interconnection model and the integration model. They are included as stages of an “integration continuum” (Cook 2003: 10). It provides multi-competence development from the total separation of the language systems to interconnection and to total integration into a single system.
The separation model reveals that language systems are forming without any links between them. The integration model is based on the perception of relationships between languages as a single system. The interconnection model indicates different degrees and types of links between languages multilingual writers have at their disposal (Cook 2003: 10). The interconnection model reveals changing relationships between language systems in the multilingual repertoire and mixed influences across them. This model forms the theoretical basis for the present study to interpret and discuss the research data.
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According to Bouvy (2000), “enhancing the connections between the languages in both teachers and learners; that is, bridging the languages, creating synergies and exploiting resources” (Bouvy 2000: 38). In Khamene’s study (2011) on comparison between bilinguals’ and trilinguals’ writing performance, the nature of interconnections presented in the writing performances differs across varying levels of proficiency in each language. According to Khamene, writing skills and strategies and even concepts readily developed in the previous languages are accessible through the target language (Khamene
In the essay “Aria: A Memoir of a Bilingual Childhood” (1981), Richard Rodriguez, an experienced writer, expressed that “…it is not possible to for a child – any child – ever to use his family’s language in school” and began expressing his past experiences with bilingualism (510). Rodriguez recollects his feelings toward the accents he has listened to throughout his childhood, his “disabling confusion” from gaining fluency in English and Spanish, and the intimacy passing between sounds and words (519). By implementing his personal experiences, he entices his reader into reading actively in order to express how confusing, yet beneficial bilingualism can be. Rodriguez’s audience is focused to those who can relate when using more than one language
Foreign language learning in pre- and elementary schools has seen a rapid development in Europe. “This movement’s impact can be recognized in Europe’s aim of fostering a plurilingual, multicultural society throughout the continent” (Jaekel 632-2). Across Europe, foreign language education in elementary schools has become the rule rather than the exception. As a result, research into early foreign language education has been growing steadily. “Primary aims are the promotion of multilingualism and multicultural understanding as well as a response to the growing demand of fluent second language (L2) speakers for the job market” (Jaekel 632-2).
Most individuals are apprehensive about changes, but there may be no reason. Changes can bring benefits to those who experience them. In the essay “Aria: A Memoir of a Bilingual Childhood” Richard Rodriguez explores his life as a bilingual child. He discusses the many changes he experiences as he goes from being fluent in Spanish to being fluent in English. Rodriguez dissuades the reader against bilingual education which is the education of nonnative English speakers in their native language.
The parent’s perspective towards bilingual education was like the student’s opinions because both individuals felt immersion classrooms benefit the students and the parents. The father of Jason was proud his son was the first in his family to read, write, and speak in English. Jason’s father knew his son would have many career opportunities by learning English at school. Learning the English academic language was not the only proud language Jason’s father encouraged for Jason to learn but also the Spanish language as well. Jason’s father only speaks Spanish so if his son was to lose his home language, a language barrier would form between father and son.
Throughout generations cultural traditions have been passed down, alongside these traditions came language. The language of ancestors, which soon began to be molded by the tongue of newer generations, was inherited. Though language is an everlasting changing part of the world, it is a representation of one’s identity, not only in a cultural way but from an environmental standpoint as well. One’s identity is revealed through language from an environmental point of view because the world that one is surrounded with can cause them to have their own definitions of words, an accent, etc. With newer generations, comes newer forms of languages.
The WIDA English Language Development Standards were established to guide, support, and help multilingual learners in their curriculum, instruction, and assessment. The WIDA standards express the importance of giving multilingual learners an environment where they can learn both academic content and language hand in hand. It is important that multilingual learners are not only growing academically but that they are also being culturally sustained. The philosophy behind the WIDA standards is that multilingual learners and ELLs get a fuller and rich filled learning experience in both culture and curriculum.
Languages are complex because they are made up of many components. Some components include the culture, meaning, and interpretation. The way people understand language has to do mostly with their culture and their understanding of what is being said. Also, depending upon where someone is raised, the pronunciation of certain words can be different and therefore it influences the understanding. My goal in this paper is to demonstrate that language and culture are intertwined.
A person who speaks more than one language is described as being bilingual. According to the United States Department of Education, “about 21% of school-age children speak a language other than English at home,” (Lowry, 2011). As Wayne Thomas and Virginia Collier describe in, “Two Languages are Better Than One,” children who come into school having a first language besides English, tend to struggle. Usually when a child struggles with a particular subject, they are taken out of the main classroom and brought somewhere for a remedial class. But according to Thomas and Collier, in order to help narrow the gap in comprehension, English learners and English speakers need to be kept together in order to be fully enriched in a successful learning
Increasing development of bilingual education and the evolution of language may be due to the population size, social, political, economical and personal requirements. Numerous researches show that learning a language can improve mental agility, it can strengthen brain, develop communicative abilities of invidividuals and strengthen and improve overall humans´ abilities and skills. The concept of bilingualism should be tackled because of the various definitions that are given to this term. Those definitions seem to share one basic element, which is the use of two given languages by a given speaker. According to Merriam-Webster dictionary bilingualism is the ability to speak two languages or the frequent use (as by a community) of two languages.
My multiliteracy developed with access to further information and questions using technology with my reading, writing and computer developed skills and also with my own personal interest in hygiene, technology and reading. I am equipped with the necessary skills to be fully functional in our multiliteracy society. Multiliteracy is important and it is important for teachers to know their learners multiliteracy journey and history in order to have personal insights as to why a certain child is either lacking a skill or why a child is the way he/she is. It is important as teachers can discover children ’s’ abilities and help with skill development.
The ability to develop foreign language become reduces. Besides the age factor Experience and school environment as well as the teaching. They play an important role in the development of language skills. So the bilingual is necessary: using
Questions of abandoning or maintaining one’s home language affects education policy in all immigrant receiving nations. Because of the consequences of colonisation, migration, nation-formation, traditions of exogamy, and modernisation, some degree of bilingualism is typical of most people in the world.” Today the most advanced nations realise that they can no longer be ignorant of the languages and cultures of other people on this planet. This is why bilingual-multicultural education was initiated. It was believed that this approach will build closer ties between the students’ community, their language background, and the educational plan of the school.
Being bilingual in the era of globalization opens up many doors to the world as well as opportunities to a brighter career and future. The myths and misunderstandings of bilingualism has to be corrected and in order for them to come to an end, since they were proven by scientific researchers that they were nothing more than just myths from the past. Parents, educators along with researchers play an important role in spreading the facts about bilingualism to avoid future confusion especially to many new bilingual families. Aside from that, motivation from parents is the main key for a bilingual child to learn and excel in both languages to achieve a balance in order to be successful in the future. It is also important for the parents to guide and monitor a child’s learning development.
Code-switching refers to the linguistic phenomenon that occurs when an individual who is either, bilingual or multilingual, alternates their dialect with various languages (Moodley, 2013:55). Associated with code-switching is the concept of Matrix language (dominant language) and the idea of when to use code-switching; whether it is conscious or subconscious. In terms of code-switching in the classroom, there are several aspects that contribute to the advantages of using different languages which may help a student learn particular subjects. For example, an English teacher who is reading a poem that has certain words in a different language. However, there are disadvantages which may hinder the student’s ability to understand certain concepts
The notion of bilingualism is frequently connected to the idea of code-switching since a person should have ability to speak using two or more than one variety. Researchers have made countless studies describing bilingualism as they create awareness in different ways. To begin with is Bloomfield (1933) who defined bilingualism as having the “native- like control of two languages”. However, Haugen (1953) pinpointed that bilingualism is the ability of a speaker to communicate and understand an additional variety. This is to mean that the concept of bilingualism exist only when an individual of a certain variety has the capability to communicate effectively in an additional variety.