Using the native language as a resource

Summary

The video script emphasizes the importance of a student's native language in learning English. It highlights how a well-developed first language can significantly support literacy and language acquisition in English, with skills such as reading strategies, alphabet recognition, and vocabulary transfer. Teachers are encouraged to understand and leverage students' primary languages, using tools like omniglot.com and *Words Their Way* to bridge gaps between languages. This approach helps build confidence and ensures more effective English language learning, offering tailored support to students based on their linguistic backgrounds.

Takeaways

• 😀 Teachers should not disregard a student's primary language when teaching English, as it plays a significant role in their ability to learn English effectively.
• 😀 The primary language holds immense power in facilitating successful English language learning and literacy.
• 😀 Students with a strong foundation in their primary language can transition to English more quickly and easily than those with weaker literacy skills in their native tongue.
• 😀 A student’s primary language provides valuable skills, strategies, and background knowledge that help them learn English, even if they have not formally been taught to read and write in it.
• 😀 For many learners, the alphabet in their primary language is similar to English, which provides a solid foundation for learning English vocabulary, especially cognates.
• 😀 It is impossible to turn off a student’s primary language; it naturally influences their learning of English, much like we would use our own language skills to learn a new language.
• 😀 The primary language serves as a bridge to English, helping students feel more confident and fearless when learning a new language.
• 😀 If a student is weak in their primary language, they may feel insecure about learning English, requiring additional support from the teacher.
• 😀 Understanding a student’s primary language is crucial for teachers to provide appropriate support, regardless of the incidence or frequency of language learners in the classroom.
• 😀 Tools like omniglot.com and 'Words Their Way with English Language Learners' can help teachers understand and bridge the gap between a student's primary language and English.
• 😀 Teachers have an obligation to educate themselves about their learners' primary language, which will improve their ability to understand the students' behavior and learning needs.

Q & A

Why is it important to consider a student's primary language when teaching English?

A student's primary language plays a critical role in their ability to learn English. Research shows that strong literacy skills in their native language can significantly accelerate their English language acquisition, providing a solid cognitive foundation for learning new concepts in English.

What role does primary language literacy play in learning English?

Primary language literacy contributes to the development of key skills like reading, writing, and comprehension, which can be transferred to learning English. Students with well-developed primary language skills are often more confident and successful in acquiring a second language.

How does the alphabet in a student's primary language affect their learning of English?

If a student's primary language shares an alphabet with English, they are already familiar with the writing system, which makes learning English easier. This familiarity can help bridge the gap between languages and enhance the student’s ability to read and write in English.

Why is it ineffective to ignore a student's primary language when teaching English?

It is ineffective because the primary language is an essential cognitive tool that the student naturally brings into the learning process. Ignoring it would mean dismissing a valuable resource that can help the student better understand English and become more proficient.

What happens when a student has weak skills in their primary language?

When a student has weak skills in their primary language, they may struggle with English as well. Teachers need to recognize this and provide extra support, as students who lack a solid foundation in their native language might face challenges in both languages.

How can teachers use a student's primary language as a tool for learning English?

Teachers can use the student's primary language to build background knowledge, create connections between vocabulary, and boost the student's confidence. Recognizing shared language structures or cognates can make the transition to English smoother.

What are some recommended resources for teachers working with English Language Learners (ELLs)?

Two valuable resources for teachers are Omniglot.com, which helps teachers understand the orthographic systems of various languages, and *Words Their Way with English Language Learners*, which provides strategies for bridging primary languages and English to facilitate learning.

What does the website Omniglot.com offer to teachers of ELLs?

Omniglot.com offers detailed information about the orthography of languages worldwide. It helps teachers understand how different languages are written, which can aid in understanding a student’s primary language and its relation to English.

How does understanding a student’s primary language help teachers with instruction?

Understanding a student's primary language allows teachers to make more informed decisions about how to approach instruction, anticipate challenges, and use strategies that leverage the student's existing knowledge to improve English language learning.

Why is it beneficial for teachers to educate themselves about their students' primary languages?

When teachers educate themselves about their students' primary languages, they can make better guesses about the student's behavior, reading patterns, and potential struggles. This knowledge leads to more effective, culturally responsive teaching that supports the student’s language development.