Strategic Use of Language Transfer in Bilingual Education

1. 13th Annual Academic Success InstituteStrategic Use of Language TransferMarch 14, 2015 Presented byDr. Gracie Guerrero

2. Often, Sometimes, Never • Face challenges when teaching concepts in both English and Spanish • Have to translate for students to understand content • Focus on development of literacy in only one language • Find it difficult to teach students to read in their second language Strategic Use of Language Transfer

3. Bilingual/ESL Teachers • Teachers in bilingual/ESL programs: • are not simply second-language teachers, nor exclusively literacy teachers • are required to develop language skills plus reading, writing and content-area knowledge with language-minority students • must apply psycholinguistics theories and principles related to second-language acquisition, along with effective literacy practices. Strategic Use of Language Transfer

4. ELA/ELD Framework Strategic Use of Language Transfer

5. Framework Key Themes • Meaning Making-Interacting with text • Language Development-Learning how English works and using foundational skills • Effective Expression-Reciprocal nature of reading, writing, speaking, and listening • Content Knowledge-Learning that texts are structured differently • Foundational Skills-print concepts, phonological awareness, phonics and word recognition, and fluency Strategic Use of Language Transfer

6. Group Discussion • I find it challenging to teach concepts in both English and Spanish because ______. • Translating for students is ________ because _________. • Development of literacy in the native language __________. • Students have difficulty learning to read in their second language when _________. Strategic Use of Language Transfer

7. Language Transfer • What do I know? • What do I want to know? Strategic Use of Language Transfer

8. Common Definitions • Applying knowledge from one language to another language • The transfer of linguistic features between languages • The transfer of rules and elements from previously learned languages when acquiring a new language Strategic Use of Language Transfer

9. Transfer of Learning • The application of skills, knowledge, and/or processes learned in one context to another learning situation • The influence of prior learning on performance in a new situation—we don’t start from scratch in every new situation learning situation • Language transfer is a type of transfer of learning in a bilingual/biliterate setting Strategic Use of Language Transfer

10. Transfer of Learning • There is a high level of transfer of skills and strategies from the first (L1) to the second (L2) language in reading • The greater the similarity in the writing systems of the two languages, the greater the degree of transfer • The time and difficulties involved in learning to read the second language are reduced Strategic Use of Language Transfer

11. What Transfers? • Automatic skills and processes • Rules, principles, patterns, and categories • Problem-solving, abstract thinking, and critical thinking skills Strategic Use of Language Transfer

12. Metalinguistic Awareness • Build on students’ established & developing L1 to teach L2 • Teach how language works to convey meaning • Analysis of concepts and principles, not just phonics or grammar rules • Facilitate transfer through direct instruction, integrated teaching, and “teachable moments” Strategic Use of Language Transfer

13. The Alphabetic Principle • Spanish Orthography • English Orthography Strategic Use of Language Transfer

14. Biliteracy in the Classroom • Spanish Phonics • English Phonics Strategic Use of Language Transfer

15. Concepts of Print • Concept of a word • Written words are separated from each other by blank spaces • Concept of a sentence • Sentences have signals that set them apart when written (capital letters, period, question mark, etc.) Strategic Use of Language Transfer

16. Concepts of Print • Morphology • Syntax Strategic Use of Language Transfer

17. Metalinguistic Aspects • Cognates • Morphological Patterns • Use of Punctuation Conventions • Capitalization Rules • Structural Differences • Articles and Gender • Use of Accents Strategic Use of Language Transfer

18. Metalinguistic Aspects • Cultural Differences • Prefixes and Suffixes • Verb Conjugations • Syntax and Grammar • Noun-Adjective Order/Agreement • Word Families and Parts of Speech Strategic Use of Language Transfer

19. Classroom Practices • Based in student needs • Part of the daily instructional time • Remain in the language of instruction • Discuss the linguistic features • Bring the two languages together for instructional purposes • Use language and talk about language Strategic Use of Language Transfer

20. Language Transfer: What Des it Look Like? Strategic Use of Language Transfer

21. References Jarvis & Pavlenko, Scott & Aneta (2008). Crosslinguistic Influence in Language and Cognition. Abingdon: Routledge. ISBN0805838856. Mercuri, S. (2014). Supporting Cross-linguistic Transfer in Dual Language Classrooms. Administrative Session: Houston, TX. Mora, J. K. (2014). Teaching for Transfer in Biliteracy Instruction: A Metalinguistic Approach. NABE Conference: San Diego, CA. Odlin, T. (1989). Language transfer: Cross-linguistic influence in language learning. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Weinreich, Uriel (1953). Languages in Contact. The Hague: Mouton. ISBN90-279-2689-1. Strategic Use of Language Transfer