Early Childhood Foreign Language Learning
MODULE 1: HOW YOUNG CHILDREN LEARN FOREIGN LANGUAGES
What is Early Childhood?
According to UNESCO, Early Childhood is the period that goes from birth to eight years old. The end of this period varies according to different theorists and educational systems, such as the Spanish Education System, which shortens it to six years old. However, all agree that this is the time with the greatest brain development in human beings and that early education lays the foundations for subsequent learning.
Brain development
Read MoreUnveiling Language Learning Myths: Children vs. Adults
Myth 1: Children Learn Second Languages Quickly and Easily
It’s often believed that children learn second languages more easily due to the “critical period hypothesis,” which suggests that children’s brains have greater cognitive plasticity than adults because their cortex is more adaptable. However, this hypothesis has been questioned, as psychological and social factors, such as personal motivation, play a significant role in learning.
In fact, studies have shown that adults often learn better and
Read MoreHandwriting, Reading, Speaking, and Listening Skills
Features of Handwriting Development
When a child first puts a pen or pencil on paper, she begins the journey with a highly conscious participation in the writing process. Slowly, with time and experience, the shaping of letters into words and sentences becomes automatic. Initially, children move through the space on paper making letters one after the other. This motion is called praxis. Scientific studies have sought to describe the features of handwriting movement, rather than advocate one method
Read MoreCrafting Effective Essays: A Step-by-Step Approach
1. Understand the Essay Question
Read the essay question carefully.
- Highlight key words.
- Use a dictionary to check the meaning of any unfamiliar words.
- Identify the task words that indicate what needs to be done (e.g., ‘discuss’, ‘explain’, ‘compare’).
- Identify the topic words that indicate the particular subject of the essay (e.g., the character of ‘Juliet’ in Shakespeare’s work or the ’causes’ of World War I).
- Identify any limiting words that restrict the discussion to a particular area (e.g., in ‘Chapters
Enhancing Listening Skills in the Classroom
Teaching: In general, students and teachers do not usually take into account the ability to listen in language class. Surely we do not dispute its importance, but in practice, not enough special attention is devoted to it. Students listen, and we know that we should apply our efforts more to other subjects: reading, writing, grammar, etc.
The Paradox of Listening
- Children arrive at school understanding the most basic things, but they have shortcomings.
- It’s a skill practiced more often, but not worked
Language Varieties: Geographical, Social, and Specific
Language Varieties
Geographical Varieties (Diatopic)
Diatopic or dialectal varieties relate the speaker to their territorial origin.
Dialects: Linguistic system derived from a language, dead or alive.
Regional Speech: The variety that a language presents in a given region. Its size is usually more limited.
Local Speech: A variety of language that occurs in a very small geographic area: a region, a city…
Social Varieties of Language
The modality of a language in a social layer is called a social dialect.
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