Language Acquisition

Language Acquisition

1. Time

   • BICS
     • The language that a student brings to school with them and is then built on
       • Vocabulary
         • Use words they already know and then build upon them through books read in class and homework
   • CALP
     • Can take up to 5 years for Second Language students to catch up to first language learners
       • This bridge can be gapped by teachers taking note of students falling behind and working with them one on one with reading and other materials
   • Early
     • Language acquired before school
   • Jim Cummins

2. Universal

   • Verbs
   • Nouns
   • Adjectives
   • Chomsky
   • Language nuance's might differ, but you can build on a students knowledge of parts of speech from their own language
     • Introducing articles to some Second Language Learners might be necessary

3. Writing

   • Basics
     • What you use in daily life, texting, casual, emails, notes
   • Academic
     • Professional papers
     • Professional Emails
   • Cummins
   • Teach students how to improve their paper writing skills
     • Workshops with other students of English First Language
     • Giving them examples of well written papers to compare theirs to

4. Strategies

   • Questions
     • Ask many different kinds, yes/no, and comprehensive
   • Gestures
     • Open book when you tell students to do the same
   • Robertson/Ford
   • When asking questions of your students be sure that they can answer them in multiple ways to ensure every student can respond.

5. Fluency

   • Early
     • Just beginning to talk and acquire the language
   • Late
     • Picking things up from their environment
   • Advanced
     • Full understanding of the language like a first language learner
   • Robertson/Ford
   • Bridging fluency in an English classroom will be something that can be something to easily bridge since focusing on becoming fluent readers and writers is key

6. We all learn the same

   • Comprehensive input
   • Understanding
     • Cummins
     • Developing Literacy
   • First Language
     • Discrete language skills
   • Krashen
   • Since we all learn the same, teaching students we should keep that mentality and help them to reach the same level.

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