Week 6

Culture and written discourse: Cross-cultural writing

 February 18th

            Reading and reflecting the articles, everything sounded very complex and interesting the question that were coming up and the findings about how to address this different writing system, while trying to learn a second one. In the article, “Unfinished Knowledge: The Story of Barbara” it discussed about having a standard writing. This made me think about the oral Standard English we are trying to achieve in schools. The Standard English that we are trying to take in it’s in means for us to have and learn everyone in one sort of way. However, it still becomes a challenge trying to define what Standard English is and how to address it. Additionally, how do we address writing, particularly when it’s harder to achieve especially for a person who native written language is not English.   

            From my own experience of writing in another language, I can say it was and sometimes it is very hard for me when it comes to grammar. I still see myself struggling with when to use passed tents like –ed. However, because Spanish is somewhat similar to English, there were still possible connections that I could relate to English writing. But, my question is what about those students whose grammar is very different from English and there is not similar connection. What to do with those students and how to help them develop in their writing. I had so much difficulty developing a second written language and did and remember struggling. As future teachers we need to be aware that writing in a second language can be very difficult. We need to be patient and understanding that this is a skill that will require time to develop. English is not an easy written language; additionally, it becomes even complicated when two written languages are not grammatically the same and we need to try and help those students of why certain things are written in this way, particularly in the Standard English.          

Week 5

Heritage Language Learners, Family Language Practices and Identity
February 11th

A Step from Heaven by Ana

            I really enjoyed reading this book “A Step from Heaven” by Ana. It was such an eye opening experience of the struggles Young Ju and her family had to go to go through to assimilate, while still trying to keep their culture and who they are intact. Reading the book, a question that came up was what was Young Ju feeling while trying to manage her parents mandate about her identity and who she was (a Korean girl), but at the same time trying to understand and assimilate in a country they had to move to? Another question is, what was Young Ju greatest motivation of wanting to do her best and go to college, while she was struggling with her life and the impact it had on her? It was just very sad what Young Ju had to live and go through just to have that “American Dream” and a better life for her and her family. It was also such an inspirational story and how Young Ju never gave up trying to do her best in school. However, other children who have experience this type of hardship in school and additionally in their houses have gone towards another route of not wanting to prosper. Overall, this was a great story that relates to the struggles students have when they have different culture of an American and trying to be part of two different worlds.   

Korean-Immigrant Parents’ Support of Their American-Born Children’s Development and Maintenance of the Home Language

            Reading the article and seeing the extremity parents are doing to teach their children their native language it’s very intriguing. My question is how and what are their children feeling or thinking when they are going through this and trying to assimilate in two different cultures? The article also discussed about the parents wanting to implement in their children who they are and where they are coming from by enforcing to learn their native language. However, reflecting on their own teaching of their own language was it difficult for the parents to try to create this idea of bilingualism in their home, and what were they struggles trying to do this?  Overall, I believe that it is very important for students to try to keep and maintain their native language because it identifies their identity, in which it is very important, but just the extremities parents have to go through its so shocking.   

Week 4

Social Identity and Cultural Assimilation
February, 4th

Language and Identity 
           In the article, “Language and Identity” by Bonny Norton, he discussed the importance of who we are and who we represent in society. He discussed that “gender, race, class, ethnicity, sexual orientation, among other characteristics are all implicated in this negotiation of identity”. Reflecting on what was discussed in the article, there is a correlation in which a student’s identity and language is very important for students to succeed a second language and trying to understand another culture.  However, it can be a challenge because there are so many factors that can contribute for a student having difficulties achieving second language acquisition. Not only are we trying to learn a second language, but also understand its social context. This can be an implication, particularity for students trying to learn a second language. In his article he discusses five areas that were research on identity,

1. Identity and investment. Research was done that showed that having motivation to learn another language may not be sufficient to have developed a good language. 
2. Identity and imagine communities. A clash between what is being learned in class and adjusting the language to society. 
3. Identity categories and educational changes. Creating a supportive environment where everyone identity is included in the classroom and respected.
4.  Identity and literacy. Literacy practice can really help people develop and better adjust outside of the classroom. 
5. Identity and resistance. Resistance can be troublesome when it comes to developing second language acquisition.

These are all very important contributing factors that we as future teachers need to consider and to better understand our students. We need to take into consideration who our students are and embrace their identity in the classroom. When we have students who are experiencing difficulty understanding the social context of another culture it may lead many students to restrain themselves from learning a second language and culture. Students’ affective filter is trigger and can cause the students to be less motivated to learn a new language and assimilate to the culture.

In the article, “Social Identity, Investment and Language learning”, it discuss important concern that as teacher we should take. I believe it was very important to encourage our students to try to further develop their language outside of classroom. I also believe it is very important to make our students be more of multicultural citizens and be accepting of who they are in society. I like the objective mention and discuss in this article to better help our ELL students feel more comfortable speaking their L2, such as,

1. Investigative opportunities to interact with target language speakers.
2. Reflect critically on engagement with target language speakers.
3. Reflect on observations in diaries or journals.
4. Pay attention to and record unusual events.
5. Compare data with fellow students and researchers.       

            Additionally, students who are trying to assimilate can be challenging, besides learning a new language. Reading the article about “The Making of an American”, it was very interesting the trajectory of Europeans trying to assimilate into the Americanized way. Surprisingly, Europeans also struggled to assimilate and change their beliefs and values. However, even though there were struggles it was still not as complicated and problematic for them to adapt than someone whose culture was very different from an American and/or European. As future teachers, we need to understand that assimilating can be very problematic for someone whose culture is different from ours. We need to be sensitive and supportive of all students and have an understanding of where they are coming from. Overall, we need to take into consideration who our students are, what is their identity, respect who they are, embrace their identity in the classroom, be sensitive, encourage the best from all students, and be supportive. 
 

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