Open Discussion Forum

  • 1.  ESL Teacher & language development in young children

    Posted 04-15-2019 01:43 PM
    Hi,

    Recently, the question around how ESL teachers foster and develop English language development in young children came up. I'm looking for any scholarly resources to hand to families about this topic since some families seem to think that children are not developing their language. Help please!

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    Janet Zamudio
    Palo Alto CA
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  • 2.  RE: ESL Teacher & language development in young children

    Posted 04-16-2019 01:30 AM
    Hi, Janet. This is a great question. Here is a great resource: The Importance of Home Language series is a set of handouts for families available in several languages to help families understand about early first and second language development. I'm so glad you asked about this because one area that gets the least coverage in ESL teacher training is how to work with really young children. And - what young children need is different than what elementary and older children need. So, this series (click here) has the latest research-based information about the role of supporting the home language while also supporting the learning of English as it is provided by the Office of Head Start. I have many more resources on my Language Castle website as well. And the Colorin Colorado website is another great place to find high quality, research-based information that is accessible for families and teachers.

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    Karen Nemeth
    Author/consultant/keynotes
    Language Castle LLC
    Newtown PA
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  • 3.  RE: ESL Teacher & language development in young children

    Posted 04-20-2019 10:40 AM
    Hello again Ms. Nemeth, 
    so exciting to have you in the discussion! My background is not in DLL, or literacy, but in social and emotional development. After returning to work as a preschool teacher, my interest in DLL has really taken off!  This started when I noticed many of our Spanish/English language learner 3 yr olds would seek me for longer verbal interactions even though I did not speak any Spanish. They had access to a teacher who spoke some Spanish, but these interactions seemed so much shorter, less detailed. I tried very hard to be available whenever our DLL would speak, and to try to extend our exchanges, looking for multiple ways to understand each other, and not giving up too quickly. I worried my usefulness was limited by not speaking more than one language. At NAEYC's annual conference last Fall, I attended as many seminars on DLL as I could! I was heartened by research that showed I could have a great impact on Dual language learners even without speaking multiple languages!  I feel like I am looking at just the tip of the iceberg- would your book be a good resource for me( beginner level so to speak)? As the music teacher, I try and include simple songs from many cultures, with a special emphasis on languages from classroom families- should I worry about pronouncing the words poorly? I am also focusing on trying to bring multiple written languages into our preschool classrooms even though the children or "pre-readers." For example, I am trying to compile a scrapbook with family photos and language samples from multiple language groups for each classroom, as we have students who speak many more home languages than just English, Spanish and French! Am I on the right track? One reason I am so interested in supporting dual language learners is because I have heard there can be a connection between anxiety and DLLs, is this correct?
    thanks so much for your guidance 
    margro Purple

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    Margro Purple
    Rockville MD
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  • 4.  RE: ESL Teacher & language development in young children

    Posted 04-22-2019 12:40 PM
    Hello all,
    What a great discussion. I want to make everyone aware of an unbelievable resource out there for finding very appropriate multicultural books for young children. It was developed by 2 professors at Bates College. My daughter attended this college and was lucky enough to have this professor for a class.
    Here is the link:  https://diversebookfinder.org/.
    Even if you don't use the search engine, this is a really great site to read about how a very small liberal arts college in Maine is teaching young adults some really important and valuable things about young children and literacy and diversity. 
    Enjoy

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    Catherine Forcillo
    teacher
    Grosse Pointe Public Schools
    Grosse Pointe MI
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  • 5.  RE: ESL Teacher & language development in young children

    Posted 04-16-2019 09:35 AM
    Hi, 
    Ms. Nemeth is spot on! I love the resources on the HHS/ head start webpage, and recommend just playing around with all the topics, not just dual language. You will find great slide show presentations, helpful hints best practices and more! The resources are free and often available in multiple languages!

    https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/culture-language/article/dual-language-learners-toolkit

    Good luck and enjoy the learning!

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    Margro Purple
    Rockville MD
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  • 6.  RE: ESL Teacher & language development in young children

    Posted 04-19-2019 05:33 PM

    Challenging, but great question.

    Dr. Linda Espinosa's Challenging Common Myths About Young Dual Language Learners: An Update to the Seminal 2008 Report discusses the benefits of dual language learners developing their home language as well as English. NAEYC's Spotlight on Young Children: Supporting Dual Language Learners  states "Research indicates that becoming proficient in two languages is both possible for and beneficial to young children; bilingual preschoolers show cognitive, linguistic, and social advantages (Bialystok 2008; Kuhl 2009)." This book also gives guidance on implementing a successful dual language program and methods to successfully communicate these points with children and families.

    Hope this helps.



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    Lark Sontag
    Community Engagement Manager
    National Association for the Education of Young Children
    Washington DC
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  • 7.  RE: ESL Teacher & language development in young children

    Posted 04-20-2019 03:46 AM
    It has been a permanent discussion at our school, based on some research I would say developmental ages are highly important. To work based on what students can produce and how they can develop it, our students are very concrete, they need real connections to the surrounding context.

    You can consider reviewing some action research developed by Barbara Noel regarding bilingualism and literacy development in mother tongue and additional languages.

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    Jully Martinez
    Homeroom Teacher
    Colegio Nueva Granada
    Miami FL/Bogotá, Colombia
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  • 8.  RE: ESL Teacher & language development in young children

    Posted 04-20-2019 10:08 AM
    Hi Jully,
    i am having trouble finding accessible article by Barbara Noel, 
    do you have any link?
    thank, 
    margro Purple

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    Margro Purple
    Rockville MD
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