Discussion of the Importance of Multilingualism Among Yout South Africans

In my opinion bilingualism plays a major role in the educational development of children. This is because research has shown that children who are fluent in their home language are more successful in learning a second language. Furthermore, being bilingual offers greater sensitivity to language, more flexibility in thinking and better ear for listening. It also improves a child’s understanding for the native language. Moreover, knowledge of other languages increases a career of opportunities offering several job options.

When my grandfather was thirty, he could speak four languages. He would talk to his parents in Farsi, his friends in French, his neighbors in English, and his cousins in German. Fifty years later, he continues to surround himself with the culture of those he has met and connected with. He may be living in a largely Farsi speaking community, but the cultural appreciation fostered after years of stumbling through three foreign languages has followed him. Language unlocks doors between different peoples and cultures, ultimately laying the foundation for clear communication and honest discourse. We currently live in a world where the

Having the ability to speak more than one language influences one’ life deeply. Speaking two or more languages can affect someone from being infants to old age. Bhattacharjee continues with, “The bilingual experience appears to influence the brain from infancy to old age (and there

“One of the greatest and most influential filmmakers of all time”, Federico Fellini once stated that “A different language is a different vision of life” and I, in my turn tend to say that he was perfectly right. A person who speaks more than one language can experience multiple personalities, visions and reflections consisting which language is he speaking. High School students should comprehend the real benefit of speaking a foreign language. Being a multilingual myself and speaking fluently four languages and studying another two, I consider that I am qualified enough to persuade that my argument is strong, plausible and not ultimately-right. In the following paragraphs I am going to address the following three reasons why should other High School students learn at least one foreign language? Firstly, learning a new language enhances performances in the academic domain and makes you smarter. Secondly, knowing a new language is a high estimated and a very valuable characteristic in your professional CV. Thirdly, international travel is more pleasant through knowing a foreign language.

In life, there are many languages that everyone speaks. In fact, after interpreting the passage, “ Mother Tongue,” by Amy Tan, I’ve discovered many different ways language is interpreted as such as localized lingo , my own language Punjbialish, how others interpret their own languages, and how others speak bilingual , trilingual, and multilingual languages in everyday life. After reading the writer's article on her own experiences with languages it has opened my mind to the many different forms of languages everyone uses in this multicultural technological world we live in. First, i have noticed that most people have grown up learning bilingual, trilingual, and multilingual languages in their household.

As a matter of fact, multilingualism is usually an unavoidable reality in most countries where English is used as a second language. In Nigeria, for instance, due to colonial origin, every educated person, or any other person who regularly interacts with people from other ethnic groups usually speak two languages: his mother’s tongue (ethnic language) and English. That’s why different ethnic groups in the country have found in English a common means of communication and identity.

Thesis: Language in Ibo culture plays a pivotal role in shaping everyday life, upholding values and lessons, and establishing opportunities for members of the community.

Language is the medium that has various meaning and forms. According to some researchers, language is a cognitive system that has consistent rules which people use to both write and speak (Gee & Hayes, 2011, p. 6; Vendryes, 1997, p.16). Alternatively, other study claim language as dynamic phenomena, which has changing characteristics and influenced by socio-cultural context (Green, 2006, p. 2). Also, Grugeon and Gardner (2013, p. 105) explain language as a physical object that people use for social interaction which is influenced by the relationship between the speaker and the listener, and can vary due to the social and cultural context. Hence, language is a material and a systemic object with set rules that are used as a social process and changes due to the geographic location, social context and relationship of those who are communicating (Ellis & Larsen-Freeman, 2009, p. 3). Teachers should realise that classrooms would have students from various cultures and languages (Cremin & Myhill, 2012, p. 19). In addition to this, Cremin and Myhill, (2012, p. 20) claim that it is essential that teachers should ensure to meet the nature of multicultural classrooms with various language resources and text based on socio-cultural artefacts to support the diverse learners. This essay will discuss that a language has the interconnected phenomena of an object, systemic functions and the social process. Additionally, this essay will explain how teachers can adapt to an inclusive and

The necessity for educational institutions to equip students with the skills to cope in a rapidly changing, culturally diverse and globalised 21st century society, has led academics, such as the New London Group, to encourage educators to acknowledge the various literacy forms utilised in the new millennium (The New London Group, 1996) and to adopt a pedagogy of multiliteracies. This essay will explore the components of a pedagogy of multiliteracies and identify the transformations needed for the successful implementation of

Depending on whom you ask, the topic of bilingualism is something that many individuals wonder and ask questions about, especially when it comes to language development. One of the main concerns parents and educators alike have about being bilingual is how is what kind effect will it have on a child when learning a second language while growing up. Many are scared because at times they think the child would lose their first language or not be able to learn a new language because it might be too difficult for them to learn to languages at the same time. However, there are people who also wonder if after learning and becoming proficient in one language is it easier to become proficient in many other languages. Therefore, studies have shown the effects of bilingualism in language and cognitive and have found theories to prove it. According to the author, “The theories of bilingualism include the balance theory, common underlying proficiency, threshold theory, and the linguistic interdependence hypothesis”(Wallner, 2016:15). Since these researchers did find out about these theories, they also identified that there are multiple benefits in speaking two languages; which are increased cognition and intercultural competence.

Language is a key part of any family, community, culture and the human race. Without language the world today would be much different. From cavemen, to the Egyptian use of hieroglyphics, to Old English, to more than 6,500 languages spoken around the world today, the advances that humans have made in language is remarkable and inspiring. The ability to speak, read, write and understand more than one language is also remarkable and expands the liberties in life, especially for young people. High school students should be required to take at least two years of a foreign language class in order to graduate, as many recent studies support the benefits of doing so. Students who have learned a foreign language in high school have proven to have a

With less economic opportunity in most African countries, young ones tend to focus their future in travelling to foreign or western countries for more opportunities. They know from the start that language could be a barrier. So, to make a bridge, from their schooling stage, they show more interest in learning foreign language like French, English and Portuguese while neglecting their own. It has become rare for African children born in town, to speak correctly their mother tongues. Some dialects are even disappearing. There is a saying in English: “Before learning a

. Mother tongue must be the medium of instruction in all schools across the country. Plays an important role in framing child’s thinking, emotions and spiritual world. “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language that goes to his heart” says Nelson Mandela. I strongly agree with the motion, as mother tongue is the language of the heart and mind. In in this essay, the reason why mother tongue should be the medium of instruction in South African schools is discussed.

Language learning practices in schools in post-colonial countries are fraught with tensions and contestations. These tensions are often a result of divergent discourses around decolonization, globalization, and the status of the colonizer’s language in the work of post-colonial nation building and national identity (Canagarajah, 2005). The complexities around English language learning is situated in contexts, where historical trajectories have discriminated against some groups. Within countries like Sri Lanka, debates prevail with regards to national and official languages, minority language rights, and particularly issues surrounding access to capital (Bratt-Griffler, 2002; Wickremasuriya, 1976). The questions based on which communities are privileged and marginalized in post-colonial countries cannot be taken lightly, as Sri Lanka stands as an example of how these inequities led to a horrific ethnic conflict (Canagarajah, 2005). Furthermore, Sri Lanka provides an excellent opportunity to study the global resurgence of the dominance of English in previously colonized nations (Brocke-Utne, 2012; Lin & Martin, 2005). In recent times, Sri Lankan education systems have allowed for more private international schools that teach a Cambridge or Edexcel curriculum (http://wenr.wes.org/). In 2001, the Ministry of Education of Sri Lanka, permitted English to be taught in schools as a medium of instruction (along with the two other local languages, Sinhala and Tamil). In 2003, English

The home language helps to promote and preserve the cultural identity especially when people migrate to the Western countries (Kaur, 2010; Azzolina, 2007; Cavaluzzi, 2010); Del Carpio & Del Carpio, 2015). The reports from Statistics (2013) shows that in New Zealand, most commonly spoken languages after English are Maori, Samoan, Hindi, Northern Chinese, French and Yue (Cantonese).This paper will focus on the benefits of learning two or more languages during the early years of education. The children with strong home language base learn other languages easily and it helps them to develop their cognitive, linguistic and social-emotional skills (Magruder, Hayslip, Espinosa & Matera, 2013; Kaur, 2010; Ball, 2012, Nemeth, 2009). In addition, the theoretical perspectives of promoting children’s home language in the western countries will also be recognized. This paper is also aimed to investigate teaching strategies used to support the home language of culturally and linguistically diverse children in Aotearoa/ New Zealand.