lecture recording on 12 March 2025 at 11.32.11 AM

Bilingual Learning Strategies

• Real-World Connection:

  • Importance of seeing side-by-side text in different languages.

  • Example: Using bilingual dictionaries to fill gaps in understanding while studying Spanish in college.

• Reading Practices:

  • Common Core recommends reading a text three times:

    • 1st Time: What does the text say?

    • 2nd Time: How does the text work?

    • 3rd Time: What else do I know? How do I go beyond?

  • Encourage students to read texts in both English and Spanish during practice.

Explicit Teaching of Language Elements

• Suffixes and Word Study:

  • Emphasize the importance of teaching word structures (e.g., suffixes).

  • Example: Teaching about suffixes in Spanish alongside those in English to enhance understanding.

• Cognitive Rules:

  • Providing cognitive rules explicitly helps students grasp language structure and use.

  • Teaching should not skip over these foundational elements.

Observation and Modeling Techniques

• Modeling in the Classroom:

  • The effectiveness of showing students how to do tasks rather than merely telling them.

  • Importance of gradual release:

    • Start with modeling, then move to guided practice and independent use.

• Student Engagement:

  • Noticing student reactions and engagement when participating in vocabulary exercises.

  • Encouraging students to independently explore vocabulary in both languages enhances comprehension.

Thematic Lessons and Critical Thinking

• Thematic Discussions:

  • Discussion topics include historical impacts (e.g., the construction of the continental railroad) and their implications on different communities (Chinese workers, Native Americans).

• Critical Inquiry:

  • Encourage students to evaluate whether historical decisions were beneficial or harmful.

  • Analysis of societal impacts fosters critical thinking.

Literature and Cultural Awareness

• Literary Analysis:

  • Importance of reading literature for moral themes and character analysis.

  • Discussing the role of perspectives in storytelling (e.g., animal representations in literature).

• Cultural Connections in Language:

  • Capitalization in text signifies cultural context and importance of certain elements (e.g., animals personified in Native American stories).

  • Acknowledge how translation may reflect different cultural norms.

Cross-Linguistic Text Analysis

• Comparative Reading:

  • Using cross-linguistic text analysis to compare English and Spanish texts.

  • Engaging activities that involve acting out parts of stories enhance understanding and retention.

Conclusion

• Literature's Importance:

  • Literature serves as a reflection of humanity, enriching students' understanding of behavior, thinking, and perspectives.

  • Engaging deeply with literature fosters a love of reading and critical thought in students.