Voices and Silences: Language is Power

Blog #2 Rodriguez / Collier ( Quotes) 

The articles for this week Aria by Richard Rodriguez and Teaching Multilingual Children by Virginia Collier discussed bilingual education from a student and educators point of view. These articles worked together to borden my understanding of what it is like to teach or participate in an ESL learning environment. By connecting Richard’s personal experience of being an ESL student and some of the seven guidelines mentioned in Collier’s article I will demonstrate the importance of being bilingual in today’s society. 

Richard Rodriguez was taught by nuns. When he was in first grade the Sister’s visited the Rodrigueze’s home and made a request, “Is it possible for you and your husband to encourage your children to practice their English when they are home.” In my opinion the parents took the nuns request too literally because they stopped speaking spanish to their children all together. 
           
               For my Placement this semester I am working with ESL students in a kindergarten      classroom. On my second week at the school I had the opportunity to work with 1st grade students. And the first thing 2 of the students asked me when I sat down to work with them at their center was, "Miss Stephanie, do you speak Spanish?" This question did not make me feel uncomfortable and to be completely honest I think my past self would have been out of my comfort zone. But I understand that this language is a part of their culture and it is another way that these children communicate and get their points across to their teachers, families, and friends. 

The third guideline mentioned in Collier’s article states, “Don’t teach a second language in any way that challenges or seeks to eliminate the first language.” It is essential for families and communities to recognize the importance and opportunities that being bilingual has to offer them. If Richard’s parents had decided to continue to speak spanish in their home a language barrier would not have been created when the children became Americanized. 
 
Collier’s fifth guideline states, “Do not forbid young students from code switching in the classroom. Understand the functions that code switching serves.” Code switching occurs when bilingual people use both languages in speech and they alternate between the two languages. When code switching occurs it does not mean that students do not understand the difference between the two languages. In many ways it demonstrates that the children are making an effort to communicate using everything they have learned. 

As explained in guideline seven, “Providing a balanced and integrated approach to the four language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing.” Children become aware very early of the importance of written language through books, the media, signs, printed containers, and endless forms of environmental print. The main goal of an ESL instructor is to teach her students to be able to communicate verbally and understand written words. Communication is of vital importance if foreign speaking parents and their children want to be successful. 

Thinking Points: Have you had any experiences working with Bilingual students in your placement settings? Have you ever had experience working with bilingual people in everyday life?