Did you know that knowing more than one language is good for your brain? It makes you smarter! Researchers have discovered that people who know more than one language can more easily focus on two tasks at the same time, and they are able to think more analytically; they are good at solving various kinds of mental puzzles. Very cool!
Do you know more than one English? Conduct a survey in your class to find out what languages are connected to your classroom.
What other languages are spoken in your classmates’ homes? Make a list.
Are there languages that are spoken by family members at home but that the student doesn’t know?
If another language is spoken at home, is English also spoken?
Do any students serve as translators for family members who do not speak English or do not speak it well?
What are some of the challenges of having one language spoken at home and a different one in school?
What are some of the benefits?
What other languages would you like to learn and why?
key words: bilingualism, code-switching
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.L.3 Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts, to make effective choices for meaning or style, and to comprehend more fully when reading or listening.
Here is this lesson as a pdf.
Je, unajua kwamba kujua lugha zaidi ya moja ni nzuri kwa ubongo wako? Inakufanya uwe na akili zaidi! Watafiti wamegundua kuwa watu wanaozungumza lugha zaidi ya moja wanaweza kukaza fikira kwa urahisi juu ya kazi mbili kwa wakati mmoja, na wanaweza kufikiria kwa njia ya uchambuzi zaidi; wana ustadi wa kutatua aina mbalimbali za mafumbo ya akili. Ni baridi sana! Je, unajua Kiingereza zaidi ya moja? Fanya uchunguzi katika darasa lako ili uone ni lugha zipi zinazohusiana na darasa lako. Ni lugha gani nyingine zinazozungumzwa nyumbani kwa wanafunzi wenzako? Fanya orodha. Je, kuna lugha zinazozungumzwa na washiriki wa familia nyumbani lakini ambazo mwanafunzi hajui? Ikiwa lugha nyingine huzungumzwa nyumbani, je, Kiingereza pia huzungumzwa? Je, kuna wanafunzi wanaotumikia kama watafsiri kwa ajili ya washiriki wa familia ambao hawazungumzi Kiingereza au hawazungumzi vizuri? Ni nini kinachotusaidia kujua kwamba kuna lugha moja ya kuzungumza nyumbani na lugha nyingine ya kuzungumza shuleni? Ni faida gani fulani zinazopatikana? Ni lugha gani nyingine unayotaka kujifunza na kwa nini? "Kumbuka: ""Kutumia lugha mbili kwa njia ya kubadilisha nambari"" (CCSS, ELA, Literacy, CRA, L33) ni njia ya kujifunza lugha na kuelewa jinsi inavyofanya kazi katika muktadha tofauti, kufanya uchaguzi mzuri wa maana au mtindo, na kuelewa zaidi wakati wa kusoma au kusikiliza." Hapa ni somo hili kama pdf.