Video 1: Soyul & Teacher Yvette...Adventures in Preschool Second Language Acquisition

Teaching At The Beginning Videos

24 Jul 201720:55

Summary

TLDRThe video script documents the early education journey of Soyul, a Korean-speaking child, at UCLA's Early Care & Education program. Initially non-English speaking, Soyul gradually develops her English skills over 14 months, engaging in activities like singing, playing, and learning about animals and nature. The diverse classroom environment, with up to 14 languages, is emphasized, highlighting the importance of building relationships with children and families to support their educational and care-giving processes.

Takeaways

🌟 Soyul, a young child, entered an early care and education program at UCLA speaking only Korean and with no English proficiency.
🌱 Over a 14-month period, Soyul's English language skills gradually emerged as she interacted with teachers and staff at the center.
📚 The educational environment is rich in linguistic diversity, with up to 14 different languages spoken among 22 children in Soyul's classroom.
👂 The teachers use a variety of strategies to help children feel comfortable, such as engaging with them in their native language and providing reassurance.
🎶 The script includes several instances of singing and reciting nursery rhymes, which are part of the educational activities to foster language development.
🐶 The use of animal sounds and associated words is a teaching method to help children learn new vocabulary in a fun and interactive way.
👧 Soyul's shyness and reluctance to speak English are addressed by the teacher's patience and by creating a supportive environment.
🤝 Building relationships with children and families is emphasized as essential for the children's educational and care-giving process.
🏖 Play activities such as making sand castles are used to encourage social interaction and language use among children.
📈 The teacher communicates with parents about their child's language milestones, which helps to build trust and involvement.
🩰 Soyul's experience with ballet is discussed, indicating that the curriculum includes a variety of activities to promote physical and artistic development.

Q & A

What language did Soyul initially speak when she came to UCLA Early Care & Education?
-Soyul initially spoke Korean when she came to UCLA Early Care & Education.
How old was Soyul when she started attending UCLA Early Care & Education?
-Soyul was 2 years and 10 months old when she started attending UCLA Early Care & Education.
What was the duration of Soyul's time at UCLA Early Care & Education before her English started to emerge?
-Soyul's English started to emerge after 14 months of attending UCLA Early Care & Education.
What is 'TOKKI JIB' in the context of the script?
-'TOKKI JIB' is a Korean phrase mentioned in the script, but the exact meaning is not provided within the transcript.
How did Teacher Yvette help Soyul feel more comfortable with speaking English?
-Teacher Yvette helped Soyul feel more comfortable by making her feel understood, giving her words to express herself, and building a relationship with her.
What song did Soyul and the other children sing together in the script?
-Soyul and the other children sang 'Itsy Bitsy Spider' together in the script.
What is the significance of the rain stick in the script?
-The rain stick is used as a teaching tool to help children understand the concept of sound and to differentiate between similar objects.
How many languages are represented in Soyul's classroom according to Moises Roman?
-There are as many as 14 languages represented in Soyul's classroom.
What is the teacher-student ratio in Group 3, Soyul's classroom?
-The teacher-student ratio in Group 3 is 1:6.
What activity does Soyul invite Laura to join her in doing?
-Soyul invites Laura to join her in building sand castles.
How does Teacher Yvette communicate milestones in Soyul's language development to her parents?
-Teacher Yvette communicates milestones in Soyul's language development to her parents by informing them about key phrases she has learned and used at school.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Language Acquisition and Classroom Interaction

The first paragraph introduces a young girl named Soyul who enrolled in UCLA Early Care & Education at 2 years and 10 months old. Initially, Soyul spoke only Korean, her home language, but over the course of 14 months, her English proficiency began to develop. The narrative captures various interactions in the classroom where Soyul is seen engaging with her teachers and peers, using both Korean and emerging English skills. The teacher, Yvette, facilitates Soyul's learning through play and conversation, covering topics such as animals, their noises, and body parts. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of language immersion and the natural progression of language acquisition in a supportive environment.

05:01

👥 Building Relationships in a Multilingual Classroom

The second paragraph delves into the challenges and strategies of teaching in a multilingual classroom with children from diverse linguistic backgrounds. It highlights the personal experience of the teacher, who was once a Spanish speaker learning in an English-speaking environment. The teacher's empathy for Soyul's situation is evident as she describes strategies to make Soyul feel comfortable, such as affirming her understanding and encouraging her to express herself more. The paragraph also touches on the broader context of the classroom, which includes 22 children speaking up to 14 different languages, emphasizing the richness of cultural and linguistic diversity and the importance of building strong relationships with children and families to support their educational journey.

10:01

🤝 Fostering Inclusivity and Communication

This paragraph focuses on the essential role of building relationships with children and families in a diverse classroom setting. It discusses the importance of understanding and accommodating the various languages spoken by the children, which can sometimes be very unique to the area. The narrative includes interactions that promote inclusivity, such as asking children to join in activities like building sand castles and exploring different rain sticks. The teacher's approach to involving children in decision-making and listening to their opinions is showcased, highlighting the development of communication skills and social interaction among the children, regardless of language barriers.

15:02

🎭 Celebrating Milestones and Cultural Exchange

The final paragraph showcases the progress of Soyul's language development and the teacher's efforts to communicate milestones to her parents. It illustrates the parents' surprise and delight upon learning that their child is speaking English at school, despite not doing so at home. The teacher reassures the parents about the value of maintaining their home language while also acquiring English. The paragraph also includes a glimpse into Soyul's learning experiences outside of language, such as ballet, and her attempts to count in Korean. The narrative concludes with a reflection on the importance of cultural exchange and the joy of witnessing a child's growth in a multilingual and multicultural environment.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Language Acquisition

Language acquisition refers to the process of learning and understanding one or more languages. In the video's theme, it is central as it showcases the journey of a child named Soyul, who initially speaks only Korean but gradually begins to acquire English. The video demonstrates this through her interactions with teachers and peers, highlighting the importance of language in early childhood education.

💡Bilingualism

Bilingualism is the ability to speak and understand two languages fluently. The script illustrates this concept through Soyul, who is bilingual in Korean and English. The video emphasizes the value of maintaining one's home language while also learning a new language in an educational setting, as seen when Soyul's parents are surprised by her English language development.

💡Early Care & Education

Early care and education encompass the services and programs that support the development of young children, often before they reach school age. The video script describes Soyul's experience in an early care and education program at UCLA, where she is introduced to English and various activities that foster her cognitive and social development.

💡Cultural Diversity

Cultural diversity refers to the existence of a variety of cultural or ethnic groups within a society. The script mentions a classroom with children from different parts of the world, speaking as many as 14 different languages, which underscores the importance of cultural diversity in shaping a rich and inclusive learning environment.

💡Inclusive Education

Inclusive education is an approach that ensures all students, regardless of their abilities or backgrounds, have access to the same educational opportunities. The video shows an inclusive classroom where children of various linguistic and cultural backgrounds are learning together, with teachers adapting their methods to accommodate the diverse needs of the students.

💡Language Milestone

A language milestone is a significant achievement in a child's language development. The script highlights Soyul's language milestones, such as when she begins to use English phrases and sentences, which are communicated to her parents by the teacher, demonstrating the progress she's making in her second language.

💡Second Language Learning

Second language learning is the process of learning a language that is not the native or first language of the learner. The video focuses on Soyul's experience learning English as her second language, showing how she picks up words and phrases through immersion and interaction with her teachers and peers.

💡Communication

Communication is the act of conveying meanings from one entity to another through the use of a common set of symbols. In the script, communication is vital as Soyul learns to express herself in English, allowing her to interact with her teachers and classmates effectively, as seen when she asks to play with a friend.

💡Play-based Learning

Play-based learning is an educational approach that utilizes play as a primary method for delivering content and developing skills. The video script includes various instances of play-based learning, such as singing songs, building sand castles, and exploring with rain sticks, which are all activities that contribute to Soyul's educational experience.

💡Emotional Expression

Emotional expression refers to the ability to convey one's feelings and emotions effectively. The script shows the importance of Soyul being able to express her emotions in English, such as when she might say 'stop' or 'I don't like it,' indicating her growing comfort and proficiency in communicating her feelings.

💡Parent-Teacher Communication

Parent-teacher communication is the exchange of information between parents and teachers to support a child's learning and development. The video script illustrates this through the teacher's updates to Soyul's parents about her language development, which helps build a strong partnership between the school and the family.

Highlights

Soyul, a young Korean-speaking child, enters UCLA Early Care & Education at 2 years and 10 months, not speaking any English.

Soyul's English language skills gradually emerge over 14 months, showcasing the power of immersion in a supportive educational environment.

The importance of maintaining a child's home language is emphasized, as seen with Soyul continuing to speak Korean.

Teachers use interactive activities and songs to engage children and facilitate language acquisition.

Soyul's shyness and reluctance to speak English are addressed through patient reassurance and encouragement from her teacher.

The teacher's own experience as a Spanish speaker helps her empathize with Soyul's language learning journey.

Diversity in the classroom is celebrated, with up to 14 different languages spoken among 22 children.

Building relationships with children and families is key to supporting their education and care.

Soyul's parents are amazed by her English language development, highlighting the importance of communication between school and home.

The teacher's role in facilitating social interactions among children is demonstrated when encouraging Soyul to invite others to play.

Cultural and linguistic diversity is integrated into classroom activities, enriching the learning experience.

Soyul's ability to express her feelings and thoughts in English is a significant milestone in her language development.

The teacher's creative approach to language learning includes using physical gestures and props to aid understanding.

Parents are actively involved in their child's extracurricular activities, as seen with Soyul's ballet practice at home.

The transcript illustrates the natural progression of language acquisition, from single words to complex phrases and sentences.

The teacher's continuous support and feedback play a crucial role in Soyul's confidence and language development.