Second and Third Language Learning

Here in the United States, there has become more of an effort to start introducing a second language to children at an earlier age. 

The Center for Applied Linguistics has done much research in the area of second language acquisition and young children. Let me first say that I have tremendous respect for C.A.L., as when I was teaching at a Spanish immersion school, we worked on several collaborative projects.

They are very dedicated and know their stuff. 

Based upon their research, they came up with a list of what the US can learn from its friends in Europe, with the following list being their key findings:

Start language education early. 

Conduct long-term research. 

Provide stronger leadership. 

Identify how technology can improve language instruction. 

Develop appropriate language assessments. 

Designate foreign language as a core subject. 

Take advantage of the sociolinguistic context.

Their research focused on how the United States can learn from the framework for learning a second language in a school setting, not in a home setting, nor in a Montessori setting. 

It would be interesting to see what results they would find if they were to ascertain second language learning in the home or in a Montessori inspired home. Their framework focuses on oral language assessments, which might have to have a place in second language learning, but what about if the child is learning in a more authentic context? We do not test children in the home as they are beginning to speak...we can figure out that they are picking up language based upon informal interactions with our children, not tests.

What if the child begins to learn a second language while doing everyday tasks / practical life, such as while cooking, helping around the home, and reading with Mom or Dad? 

My one concern is that their recommendations seem to point to the idea that foreign language should be designated as a  core subject. This might be necessary in the scope of public schooling, for if it is not designated as a core subject, then they might not be able to find money to pay for the programs. However, in the context of our home, and more specifically, in the context of our homeschooling, second language learning kind of flows throughout the learning process. 

But as far as actual instruction, for my little ones, it works well for us if it is more of an enrichment rather than a core subject. 

Maybe that will change as the boys get older, or as we have more money to hire someone who is a native speaker, it would be possible to think of foreign language as a core subject, but for now, we do either Spanish or French or both as the interest and need arises...if we have materials for certain concepts, then I will put them out on the shelves as work. 

Integrating technology for second and third language learning has many possibilities, as does doing interactive videoconferencing projects with penpals from other countries. this would work for us, as we already participate in various penpals projects, ePals projects, and continents swaps. 

But again, for us, this will be outside our Montessori mornings.

If the boys request to do either Spanish of French, then I will get out something for them that has an oral language component, as well as an auditory one, but this is not something that we necessarily do everyday.

Integrating the little bits of a second and third language seem to work best for us when we are reading together, doing simple household tasks, such as laundry or dishes, etc. I do not test them on their second and third language proficiency in this casual setting...I could see a place for such testing for proper placement in a class when they are a little older, though...

The boys are developing an appreciation for other cultures, and for right now, that is more my goal. 

They love learning about languages spoken in other countries as they are looking through continents boxes, or when we do a continents swap. 

Big Bro especially likes looking at materials printed in a foreign language and comparing and contrasting the word in another language to a word in English. 

Brain based research seems to really support learning a foreign language in early childhood, so it is something that we hope to better address in the near future. Wish that I could somehow get some grant money to do a more formal program in the near future, but am not sure if grant money for such a thing even exists for a homeschooling family or for a homeschool co-op.

The big issue is that although I have a fair understanding of Spanish and French, and can do a decent job reading those languages, my fluency is not there, not is my mastery of a proper accent. While I fully support the Montessori principle of teaching a child to teach themselves, a child normally would be picking up language from a native speaker from before birth...they would already know their mom's voice as wee infants, and would not be starting language with learning colors and numbers. 

To make it a successful situation for child to acquire a second or third language for themselves is going to require some outside help, by way of classes and native language work. 

Ideally, I would love to do some sort of immersion program or else weekly class sessions with native speakers, both for myself and for my sons. 

But that is not something that is available to us at the moment, so what we are doing includes using simple board books and readers, several auditory programs, simple bilingual and trilingual games and activities...but again, most of them are outside the boys' normal Montessori work period, unless it is something very simple. 

But, in case any of you are also trying to figure out how to include a foreign language into your Montessori inspired homes, or into your homeschools in general, whether or not you subscribe to the Montessori Method in your homeschooling, wanted to give you some snippets of what seems to be working for us n our home. 

You may also want to contact the National Network for Early Language Learning

The Center for Applied Linguistics also featured information on their collaboration with the University of Iowa through the group, Ñandutí.

Well, I have included some shots of some of the resources we are using at the moment. I also have some additional shots in my Flikr photos, so if this topic interests you, you may want to look through these too.

This book is great for beginning readers. It encourages independent learning and has very clear, well done pages. We also love using Rebecca Emberley's board books, several Spanish activity kits, and Puzzibilities wooden puzzles.

Some of the activity books with accompanying CDS or DVDs were materials I found at Target. We also have picked up a few things for foreign language learning on visits to Epcot (We are Florida residents so we tend to go to Epcot on a somewhat regular basis, making it a good place to find materials for language learning and for continents box items.)

The Puzzibilities bilingual puzzles are made of wood. they are very thick, sold puzzles. The top of the puzzle piece features the words for the item in both English and Spanish. when the child removes the piece, the word is spoken in both English and Spanish by a native sounding Spanish speaker. We found these neat puzzles at the store, Tuesday Morning, back when we were living in Virginia.

 

Solar System Work - An Easy Art / Science Project Great for the Montessori Classroom or Homeschool Environment

This is Big Bro's Solar System project (on its side to fit the screen).
Will write out directions and will make a template for you to use with your children.
As far as materials, you will need:
Black heavy poster board, glitter spray, foil, glue, permanent markers, templates for the planets and the sun.
This is a closer shot of his project. the permanent markers worked great on the aluminum foil. Gave this work a neat effect.
Here is a little glimpse of some of the projects and space themed things in Big Bro's room.
Big Bro's reading shelf, on top of his night stand. The shelves contain space books, Magic Tree House books, a few Bible stories, and some bedtime story collections.

These are some of the books on his shelf. Mostly at his independent reading level, although some are a little easier than where he is at with his reading...but some books he is not willing to part with just yet...


This Alphabet of Space Book is put out by the Smithsonian. Has a CD and a cool poster that goes with the book.
Found these plastic mats but cannot remember where...may have been Target, but not sure... in three languages: English, French, and Spanish. This is the front of the mat...
This is the back side of the mat.


Big Bro loves to learn about the Solar System and anything and everything that goes along with that...so much so that he wanted the theme of his bedroom to be space and then, he threw in robots for good measure.

Since he enjoys reading and learning about space so much, instead of having books related to this theme in our classroom, they are stored in his bedroom.

Yesterday, at his homeschool co-op, they happened to make a neat Solar System project.

Thanks to Ms. Traci, I will share the directions with how to make this project. I am going to make a template for you for this...will post the template later...

Thought that some of you might enjoy seeing this and the templates of how to make this with your children.
Also, thought that I would share some links to other websites and blogs about the solar system.

Here are two with great ideas to go with the space theme with young children:

Solar System Art Projects by Mrs. Strange's Second Graders
Really well done and easy to use. Click on the photo of the child made project and the directions and materials needed to make the project pop up. Very cool!

Lapbook Lessons has some great free printables related to the Space Shuttle theme.

Homeschool Share also has a neat lapbook on Space.


Enchanted Learning Astronomy Crafts
Enchanted Learning requires that you pay for these...but even looking at the main page will give you some good ideas for free.

NASA has a neat interactive page full of activities for children.
Very fun and educational!
NASA Kids Club

Random Photo Friday - Little Bro

Animal puzzles and naming in English, French, and Spanish
Fruit and veggie -color sort: English, French, Spanish color words
Selecta Puzzle
Stacking Work

Little Bro's Day - Counting Sea Life, Reading and Singing Songs

Little Bro had a busy morning...as usual, he was up and at 'em this a.m. and got right into doing his sea life counting work. He used sea life manipulatives and organized his work by either placing the sea creatures to the right or to the left and then set them up pretty much like addition problems..."one here and none here gives you just one"..."none here and two here gives you two"...and so on.
He then had fun counting in English, then Spanish, and then French. 

He then wanted to listen to the Smithsonian Sea Life alphabet book on CD with headphones, but Big Bro wanted to also be able to hear it, so they went without headphones.
Little Bro listened to the songs and followed along in the book, although he occasionally got up to dance a little to the music...very sweet to see him doing this.
He loves music and sometime just can't help himself but to listen to the rhythm of his feet!
All of the music and reading made him in the mood to sing other songs.

We have been working on the Continents Song and the Days of the Week Song.

Little Bro also had a blast at IKEA with his buddies. He is so excited, as he is so close to being tall enough that they generally let him come into the playroom.

Both boys love climbing on the rock wall and jumping into the ball pit.
Since our IKEA here is so new, they seem to keep it exceptionally clean.

Makes for a fun, different sort of playdate. We all adore their wonderful chocolate mousse cake too. We split a piece three ways...delicious!