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What does it mean to be bilingual? To be bilingual, means being able to use two languages with equal fluency. The advantages bilingual includes; cognitive, academic, linguistic, and social benefits. A student may have the chances of speaking two languages but the student may not be bilingual if there is no fluency in both languages. For example, my father’s first language (L 1) is Urohobo and my mother first language is Edo. I am not fluent in speaking either my father’s language or my mother’s language. I can communicate better in English language (L 2) than in my mother tongue. Teachers’ ability to read and communicate in two languages is very vital in schools. For example, in the United States Spanish seems to be the second language. A school which has bilingual teachers their staffing will be self-sustaining. The translation of teaching material would not be required. Such schools would attract extensive involvement in K – 12 educations by local community members. It has the potential to strengthen the vitality of small towns and rural communities by building a distinctive sense of place. Total Physical Response Total Physical Response is a language teaching method. This teaching approach is essential because it requires different strategies such as; movements, gestures and linked dynamics, linked with spoken language in the form of commands, to create an atmosphere that is conductive for learning. James Asher, an American Psychologist, gained insight which Total Physical Response is founded. The author discusses typical layout of a Total Physical Response classroom. The teacher approach and the student approach to teaching and learning. For example, teacher gives a command verbally and models it. And the students model and respond to each other. Total Physical Response works in the several ways. It leads to rapid understanding and long-term retention of new language. Most students benefit for the program. TPR is relaxing for students and students learn at their own pace. For example, the students gain self-confident and self esteem. It is totally flexible. What is the current trend for grade retention? Retention is the practice of holding a student in the same grade for a year or longer, often on the basis of scores on standardized tests. Research has consistently shown that retention can result in long-term negative consequences to student achievement. The highest retention rates are found among poor, monority, and inner-city youth. Some groups of children are more likely to be retained than others. Those at highest risk for retention are male; African American or Hispanic. Impact at the elementary school level
Impact at the secondary school level
Impact in late adolescence and early adulthood · Grade repeaters as adults are more likely to be unemployed, living on public assistance or in prison than adults who did not repeat a grade. · The consequence of being over-age for grade The follow are some alternatives to grade retention
Retention is more likely to have positive impact when students are not simply held back, but receive specific remediation to address skill. For example, research has shown that ESL students may need about 5 – 7 years to be proficient in the second language. http://www.nasponline.org/information/pospaper_graderetent.html http://www.fairtest.org/arn/retenfct.htm YOU HAVE BEEN HIRED IN AN ESL CLASSROOM IN A SCHOOL. WHAT DO YOU DO? As an ESL teacher I will first of all plan a thematic unit for my lessons. The plan will include family, interest, and reading. I will explore the balance literacy approach strategy; reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Family: This is one of the factors of socialization. In an ESL classroom, I will create activities in reading, writing, listening, and speaking using the family as the focus. For example, I will have the students says my things about their family. I will begin the conversation by talking about my family. I will have the students name and write simple sentences about one or two members of their family. My dad is going. My mom is cooking. I will keep doing this until the students are bored before I move to something new. Interest: Taking students interest into consideration is very important in an ESL classroom situation. In my next plan I will have the students’ share their interest of study and then I will give each student the opportunity to work on whatever area of interest. I will provide the materials and give assistance when and where needed. I will create activities whereby students could present their projects using reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Reading: I will read high level books constantly to my students. I will have my students read low level books to me. I will teach my students the components of phonemic awareness. ¨ Identity sounds in words: Example, when shown a brush, a car, and a doll they can identify doll as the word that ends with /l/ ¨ Categorize sounds in words: To recognize the “odd” word in a set of three words example, sun, ring, and rabbit ¨ Substitute sounds to make new words: To remove a sound form a word and substitute a different sound. Example, bar to car, gate to game, ¨ Blend sounds to form words: To blend two, three or four individual sounds to form a word. Example, /b/ /i/ /g/ = big ¨ Segment a word into sounds: To break a word into its beginning, middle, and ending. Example, feet /f/ /e/ /e/ /t/
What does it mean to be a Nigerian? In Nigeria, culture is manifested in art, dance, language, literature, folklore, mores, music, and even the environment. Nigeria is diverse in people and culture. More than 250 languages are spoken in Nigeria. The three major tribes are: Hausa, Ibo, and Yoruba. The dress code varies accordingly to areas and culture but personal appearance is important to the people. Northern Muslims dress conservatively while the Ibo wear casual, more westernized clothing.
For men, there are the following pieces of clothing:
In the Nigerian culture, greeting is important and highly valued. The people believe in politeness and cheerfulness when exchanging greetings. People say hello and Good morning in English. When asked about the wellbeing of someone, time is given to respond, as it is considered respectful. In addition, Nigerians may stand or sit closely when conversing. Avoid shaking hands with elders and older people in the villages. It's disrespectful to do that. You can bow down a little? Kneeling for women or prostrating by men is the norm. You may not need to do either, but just show some form of respect when greeting older people.
Since Nigeria is multicultural, gestures differ from pushing the palm of your hand forward and spreading the fingers is considered as vulgar and is to be avoided. One never says 'thank you' for food for the tradition of feeding guests is apart of the hosts responsibility. In addition to gestures, Nigerians pass objects with the right hand or both hands but not with the left. Visiting is also important as it helps maintain family and friendship ties. Guests may show up at someone's home unannounced yet still be welcomed. Eating habits varies in Nigerian culture. Some people eat meals using their hands while others use utensils. Example, while eating in the company of Nigerians one may observe that they do not utilize the dinner knife but rather would use a fork and a spoon. Yams, cassava (a starchy root) and rice are the mainstays of the Nigerian diet. In Nigeria, it is disrespectful for a child to look at his parents or an elder straight in the eyes. For example, when a child is being addressed by an elderly person the child bow his head downward. Naming ceremony is important in the Nigerian culture. For example, In the Yoruba culture, the child is usually named on the 8th day of life (exactly a week after child was born), in a traditional naming ceremony.
Nigerians value respect. For example, you do not hand things over to people, especially adults and elders with your left hand. It's considered an insult or disrespect. You don't cross or jump over someone's legs if they are sitting with the legs extended out it's considered bad luck. References: http://www.motherlandnigeria.com/customs.html http://www.motherlandnigeria.com/names.html http://www.motherlandnigeria.com/languages.html#yoruba_greetings |
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E-mail me Christiana Udebor at christieudebor@yahoo.com
Copyright © 2007 Last updated 12/06/2007
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