Comments on: Monday Morning Memo #17: The Real Scoop on Early Language Learning http://extrahourdinaryparenting.com/2009/10/27/monday-morning-memo-17-the-real-scoop-on-early-language-learning/ Pregnancy And Parenting Information So Organized It Will Put An Extra Hour In Your Day Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:44:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Nikky http://extrahourdinaryparenting.com/2009/10/27/monday-morning-memo-17-the-real-scoop-on-early-language-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-383 Nikky Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:18:07 +0000 http://extrahourdinaryparenting.com/?p=933#comment-383 Kudos to YOUR early language foundation! I am an elementary teacher, and personally, there is nothing more powerful than teaching someone to write. If you can write, you can train yourself to speak, and if you can speak, you can get a respectable job (even if you never have to carry a conversation in the workplace, you DO have to communicate clearly during an interview!) .-= Nikky´s last blog ..<a href="http://www.familyfitforlife.com/breakfast-for-dinner/" rel="nofollow">Breakfast – It’s What’s For Dinner!</a> =-. Kudos to YOUR early language foundation! I am an elementary teacher, and personally, there is nothing more powerful than teaching someone to write. If you can write, you can train yourself to speak, and if you can speak, you can get a respectable job (even if you never have to carry a conversation in the workplace, you DO have to communicate clearly during an interview!)
Nikky´s last blog ..Breakfast – It’s What’s For Dinner! My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: Mamma Buffa http://extrahourdinaryparenting.com/2009/10/27/monday-morning-memo-17-the-real-scoop-on-early-language-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-356 Mamma Buffa Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:13:10 +0000 http://extrahourdinaryparenting.com/?p=933#comment-356 oops - my website was entered wrong. It's www.thebutteredside.com Again, nothing to do with my rambling above. .-= Mamma Buffa´s last blog ..<a href="http://www.thebutteredside.com/index.php/component/content/article/119-bored-games" rel="nofollow">Bored Games</a> =-. oops – my website was entered wrong. It’s http://www.thebutteredside.com
Again, nothing to do with my rambling above.
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]]> By: Book Chook http://extrahourdinaryparenting.com/2009/10/27/monday-morning-memo-17-the-real-scoop-on-early-language-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-355 Book Chook Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:12:05 +0000 http://extrahourdinaryparenting.com/?p=933#comment-355 This is a really thought-provoking post. I tend to think we need to concentrate on what I consider the basics in elementary school. For me, that would be a literature-based curriculum, probably in English. .-= Book Chook´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheBookChook/~3/HQWxBgA0W1I/make-movie-with-xtranormal.html" rel="nofollow">Make a Movie with Xtranormal</a> =-. This is a really thought-provoking post. I tend to think we need to concentrate on what I consider the basics in elementary school. For me, that would be a literature-based curriculum, probably in English.
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]]> By: Mamma Buffa http://extrahourdinaryparenting.com/2009/10/27/monday-morning-memo-17-the-real-scoop-on-early-language-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-354 Mamma Buffa Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:09:30 +0000 http://extrahourdinaryparenting.com/?p=933#comment-354 My website has nothing to do with my profession, so don't be shocked if you ever visit it ... just a preface to below :-) I have been a Elementary & preschool Speech-Language Pathologist for 12 years now, and the question of acquiring a second language always comes up. Really, the big window of opportunity for learning a language... any language, be it your primary language or a second language, is birth to 3. The brain is a sponge and the connections that are made for language learning are at their prime in that short window. It doesn't mean we are hopeless cases for learning a second language after that. But yes, if you want your child to reap the most benefit from learning another language, the earlier the better. First grade is better than third, which is better than fifth. There is a ton of research out there that indicates learning another language can support ones ability to develop flexible thinking (if you think about the grammar and syntax for Spanish compared to English - very different)... and this skill of flexible thinking carries over to all subjects of life: science, social studies, math, problem solving, etc. When ever a an ELL (English language learner) student arrives, parents worry about the toll it may take for their child to maintain their native language as well as learn English. Every SLP I know has always answered with a resounding "yes" to helping their child do both. Not just for their culture, but to help the them develop flexible thinking skills further down the road. Really, if the child is capable... and willing, and interested I have never seen a negative outcome with learning two languages. Many of those students have gone on to honors programs excelling in all academic areas :-) As always, its important to consider the individual needs of the student. If they are diagnosed with a language learning delay, obviously throwing another language in there is not at the top of the list. Continue these types of discussions with your child, teacher, other parents and whomever is developing the curriculum in your schools and see what the general consensus and current research is to help support your desires for the eduction of your child. Never hurts :-) My website has nothing to do with my profession, so don’t be shocked if you ever visit it … just a preface to below :-)

I have been a Elementary & preschool Speech-Language Pathologist for 12 years now, and the question of acquiring a second language always comes up. Really, the big window of opportunity for learning a language… any language, be it your primary language or a second language, is birth to 3. The brain is a sponge and the connections that are made for language learning are at their prime in that short window. It doesn’t mean we are hopeless cases for learning a second language after that. But yes, if you want your child to reap the most benefit from learning another language, the earlier the better. First grade is better than third, which is better than fifth.

There is a ton of research out there that indicates learning another language can support ones ability to develop flexible thinking (if you think about the grammar and syntax for Spanish compared to English – very different)… and this skill of flexible thinking carries over to all subjects of life: science, social studies, math, problem solving, etc.

When ever a an ELL (English language learner) student arrives, parents worry about the toll it may take for their child to maintain their native language as well as learn English. Every SLP I know has always answered with a resounding “yes” to helping their child do both. Not just for their culture, but to help the them develop flexible thinking skills further down the road.

Really, if the child is capable… and willing, and interested I have never seen a negative outcome with learning two languages. Many of those students have gone on to honors programs excelling in all academic areas :-)

As always, its important to consider the individual needs of the student. If they are diagnosed with a language learning delay, obviously throwing another language in there is not at the top of the list.

Continue these types of discussions with your child, teacher, other parents and whomever is developing the curriculum in your schools and see what the general consensus and current research is to help support your desires for the eduction of your child. Never hurts :-)

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