Entry 2: Interview with a Second Language Learner
For this interview, I decided interview my husband Alberto Martinez, who I believed would be a great source and insight into what learning a second language as a pre-teen is like. Alberto speaks about how he came to the United States as a 12-year old with only basic knowledge of English, like memorizing shapes, colors, and letters through formal instruction (Ortega, 2013, p.6). Although he did receive some basic instruction in English while still living in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Alberto recounts how being placed in ESL (English as a Second Language) classes from 6th to 9th grade helped him acquire his new, L2, language in a more formal setting (Ortega, 2013, p.6).. He also made a very interesting comment regarding both his and my fluency in English. When asked how he feels his English is compared to mine, he states that, "You speak English well but I seem to be a better at grammar than you." This particular comment made me realize that Alber...
Jessica, I can see where you are coming from when you spoke about being able to speak the English language but not being able to fully comprehend what you are saying. Gass and Selinker (1994) elaborate in Chapter 10 that although understanding alone does not guarantee that learning will occur, it does set the scene for learning to take place (p. 309). I believe that everything your teachers did and what teachers do now is set the scene for learning to take place. But, every English language learner is different and this concept doesn't always apply to everyone. It now makes sense to me why most schools with only speak to you in English.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I feel like I had a similar experience when I was learning Spanish in school. When you learn other languages in school settings I think it can deter actual learning and growth because they only teach vocabulary and how to memorize words so I can recognize words but not know how to use them in a sentence. But like the quote you mentioned, Lesley, I think if I took the time to learn again I would comprehend more.
DeleteHi Lesley! While, I am now able to comprehend and appreciate all the efforts my early child hood teachers did for me while I was acquiring my L2 language, I still look back at that time period in my life as one of the most difficult. Still this hardship did come with many great learning opportunities and just like Gass and Selinker, Ortega (2013) elaborates that "acquisition process undergone by children and adults is fundamentally different because children posses the innate ability to intuit the L1 grammar, whereas adults have lost this ability and thus need to resort to problem solving and conscious attention to handle L2 learning", (p.24). I can attest to this because, although I did struggle in the beginning, I am now able to speak and write in English without much effort or problem solving.
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DeleteAsia, learning any language can be a challenge and learning them in a setting ,such as a school or home, can definitely cause some anxiety. While I can understand your frustration with only being taught vocabulary and memorizing words through formal instruction (Ortega, 2013, p.6) in Spanish, and only being able to recognize them but not use them, this naturalistic learning has already given you an advantage in actually taking your learning further. I also strongly concur with what I have read in the text book, that if you immerse yourself in the language that you are trying to acquire then the formal instruction that you have already received while in school will enable you to have a better understanding.
DeleteHi Jessica! I related so much to your experience of learning English in school but coming home to a house that is all Spanish all the time. It sounds like you learned Spanish in the informal naturalistic way that Ortega (2013) details, that is though observing and listening to the language around you (p. 6). In the other hand you learned English in a more formal instructed way, though school and tutoring (Ortega, 2013, p. 6). While I also learned English and Spanish in the same way, I was somehow able to learn both simultaneously, this may be because I was 3 years old. Don’t get me wrong I also sometimes struggle with English (in particular spelling). I think this just highlights the important job we have as teachers to lay a strong foundation for our students.
ReplyDeleteHello Karen! It is fascinating to learn that many of my peers have gone through similar experiences. While it seems like you were able to acquire a much faster understanding of the English language than I was it is interesting to learn that you, also, struggle with spelling. I also struggle with spelling. In light of the information that I am acquiring through this course, I believe that my learning of English has taken both on the naturalistic and formal instruction approach, if I am being honest, because while I do receive formal instruction at school by utilizing the writing center and other professionals (Ortega, 2013, p.6), I also gain valuable cultural knowledge when I am just around monolingual English speakers. This last statement does not disregard the crucial foundation laid forth by my EC teachers.
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DeleteKaren and Jessica,
I also went through a similar experience of learning Spanish at school and at home, however, my experience mostly came through school since Spanish was not spoken at my house since my mother could not understand it. However, I definitely understand the importance of constantly practicing a language and being able to practice it at home. Ortega talks about this interaction of practicing a language in an environment and mentions that language “comes to learners in the midst of oral interaction with one or more interlocutors, rather than as exposure to monologic spoken or written discourse” (Ortega, 2013, p.60). Ortega is telling us that having students practice words non-stop will not help them learn another language. There needs to be time for oral practice, where students can practice pronouncing words while thinking on the spot.
Hi Jessica! I had sort of a similar experience. I grew up speaking English and Spanish, but even then I had trouble communicating sometimes. I would either know a word in Spanish but not in English or vice versa. I was speaking mostly Spanish at home though since my grandparents were living with us. That may have played a part in that. I was pulled in during recess in Kindergarten for help on my English, so I wonder why maybe they did not do it earlier for you. It probably would have helped you more to have more one on one from the beginning of your education. Ortega mentions that "the process of acquiring language is essentially completed by all healthy children by age four of life" (2013, pg. 4). Maybe because you were not introduced to English until you started school in Pre-K is why it was a little difficult for you even later in life. It was difficult for me and sometimes it still is, but I had been exposed to the language already even though I was not using it as much as Spanish.
ReplyDeleteHi Alessandra! It's interesting to learn that you had, what I interpret as a, language block/barrier, when trying to communicated within your bilingual household. For some reason, I was always under the assumption that if you grew up with two languages being spoken around you, then you'd have an easier time communicating in the language of your choice, but I understand that that assumption is completely bogus. I want to say that the reason for my late interventions stem from the fact that I was only in pre-kindergarten for half a day and this did not allot enough time for early intervention.I also think that I didn't have to motivation to actually learn the language because I would come home to an all Spanish speaking household. According to Ortega (2013), "Flege and MacKay (2004)suggest that young starters who do not live up to expectations of complete success in L2 pronunciation may present low L2-use profiles and spend much of their time using the L1." (p.26) I strongly believe that this was and still is my case, sometimes.
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