This study examines the teaching and learning of a foreign language at the middle school level. Effective teachers are constantly seeking ways to make improvements on their instructional practices, their assessment techniques, and their engagements of students in the subject matters. Therefore knowledge of best practices encourages teachers to implement teaching methods that are more authentic, experimental and challenging (Zemelman, Daniels, & Hide, 2012). Many schools at every level are constantly
often said that you cannot teach an old dog new tricks. This proverb may in fact be true when learning a second language. The implication is that there is a critical period for learning a second language. Unfortunately, many elementary schools in the United States do not offer foreign language classes, missing the opportunity to learn a new language while still young. By learning a new language early on, students may increase their chances of success in higher education and mental capabilities all
Functions of English in a globalised society Over the last few decades the functional range of English has spread tremendously, affecting various domains in a worldwide context. It enables interaction for many sectors including technology, science, business, media, politics, and international organisations. English teaching in the classroom is becoming more widespread because English in the workplace is becoming more widespread. Management, IT, industry and tourism are all examples of professional
children in a foreign language class at a young age, even parent of children with no prior learning disability have these concerns. Some parents may have the option of withdrawing their children’s from foreign language studies which is understandable and completely up to their choice. However, it can deprive learning opportunities and experiences for these students. In which, could be useful and important for other things such as opening up to new interest of cultures, knowledge, and language. One thing
choose their classes, a foreign language is often a choice. However, few choose to to take this career. Learning a foreign language has many advantages in everyday life. However, some argue that a foreign language is not important and can be very difficult. Moreover, learning a foreign language has many advantages, such as boosting skills in a native language, analytical skills in the classroom, and career opportunities. Adolescents should have to learn a foreign language because it offers many advantages
here, changes the world.” Arabic professor Mahmoud Al-Batal says that the inability to speak a foreign language makes it difficult for Americans to compete globally on a linguistic and cultural level. Some critics of the United States’ monolingual nature have focused on problems in university-level language courses that result in students failing to reach higher levels of proficiency in a foreign language. Many of us have
shall use one language to be a bridge. Therefore, the English becomes a globalizing language because of its clear structure and format. Does the globalizing language good or bad for us? I believe that the answer should not be one-sided. The truth is, English as a globalizing language can bring us good for Economics and local culture. However, it also triggers some negative issues. In my following essay, I will divide into three parts. Firstly, I will describe the reason of English as a lingua-franca
schools, foreign language education has been put on the proverbial chopping block. In the results posted from a national survey of elementary and secondary schools conducted in 2008, foreign language education dropped from being taught in 31% of elementary schools in 1997, to 25% in 2008. Secondary schools experienced a 7% drop, from 86% to 79% (Rhodes 3). School administrators and boards struggle to weigh the high costs of foreign language education against the needs for other core (English, literature
Advantages and Disadvantages of a Foreign Language Immersion Classroom Experience? Introduction The purpose of this paper is to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of a foreign language immersion classroom experience. This topic is particularly valuable to parents and teachers of learners who are, or will be, part of a foreign language-based classroom that fosters both academic development and multilingualism. Foreign language immersion is an approach to learning
twenty-first century the world is becoming more urban and more modernized, and the adoption of English is a symptom of this, for increasingly English serves as the lingua franca of business and popular culture. It is dominant or at least very prominent in other areas such as diplomacy, shipping, computing, medicine and education. Ding and Saunders (2006) defines lingua franca – a term which refers to any language which serves as a common medium for communication between speakers of different tongues--has
Right now, imagine a person in a future job. More than likely that person will encounter somebody speaking a language besides their native tongue. If someone would find themselves in that position, would they be prepared? There is a growing need for translators and other jobs that require a different language other than English. Demands for bilingual workers have doubled in the past five years, and employers say that job is now one of the highest requests by employers when applying for a job opportunity
United States towards foreign languages has long been a complicated process. The nation was founded by polyglot immigrants and welcomed, to varying degrees, many subsequent waves of immigrants speaking languages familiar and foreign. Most immigrants learned English and despite efforts to maintain their mother tongue, the “permissiveness and apathy” of American society towards second languages allowed the gradual erosion of many mother tongues. English, although the common language in schools, the courts
All Students Should be Required to Study a Foreign Language Educators historically have argued over the propriety of offering various academic courses. One recent yet continuing argument on American college campuses tends to pit school against school, professor against professor, student against student, school against professor, professor against student and student against school. The issue is whether or not courses in a foreign language should be required to attain a Bachelor's degree. Some
the particular target language, its culture and the individual pragmatic reasons for learning a foreign language (Horwitz, 1990). According to Keller (1983) “motivation refers to the choices people make as to what experiences or goals they will approach or avoid and the degree of effort they will excerpt in this report” (p. 389). Tackling the motivation and language learning emerged out of the curiosity of the researchers to investigate and evaluate motivation in foreign language learning at International
The Benefits of Teaching Foreign Language in Elementary School The ultimate goal in many classrooms is to communicate in meaningful and appropriate ways (Slavit 1998). In the United States, American students get the opportunity to learn a second language in high school, yet it has been proven that children learn better when they are young. Some schools are taking this opportunity to teach a foreign language to elementary students. The United States may be the only nation where it's possible
important affective role in second or foreign language acquisition. Even though everybody has experienced feelings of anxiousness, anxiety cannot be defined easily in a simple sentence. The research on anxiety puts forward the idea that anxiety can be experienced at different levels (Horwitz, 2001; Oxford, 1999). Horwitz and Cope (1986) described foreign language anxiety as a distinct complex phenomenon of self-perceptions, beliefs, feelings, and behaviors related to classroom language learning mainly resulting
came here in USA. I am from Finland, which has two main languages; Finnish and Swedish. I also started English courses in elementary school and French in high school. I have always been really interested about different foreign languages, because it introduces me to different countries and cultures. It also helps me to communicate with people around the world while I am traveling. There are also many other advantages to learn foreign language, like for example to get better job, and be able to communicate
English is my primary language and I would like to think that I have mastered the English language. However, who ever ends up reading this journal entry might think differently. Do to my experiences with learning the English language, I do show empathy to ELL’s students. Not only are they learning a new language, but they must also use this new language to comprehend and learn academic areas such as science, math, and social studies. I can hardly begin to imagine what it is like to come to a new
English as a Second Language The field of work I have chosen requires allot of talking this is because I am going to be an ESL ( English as a Second Language) instructor. I believe that by me going into that field I will help give students a chance to expand their learning skills and help them get through the rest of their life with a good standing of themselves. Many schools are in great need of people in the field of this type of education. They are faced with a language challenge because
Why should anyone want to study English? Why not French or Spanish or even Mandarin Chinese? Is English so much more interesting than any other language? Why spend time studying a language and not mathematics or science? Well, there are some very good reasons for that. Never before, has a sound knowledge of languages been so important for finding a decent job. It is probably the first question they ask you if you apply for one. Someone who knows different languages will be preferred to someone with