A strategy for the assessment of bilingual handicapped children

Because of current federal legislation, educators must assess children with possible handicapping conditions and plan an individual education program for each child with a special need. Past trends are inadequate for these two purposes, and, furthermore, have placed bilingual, culturally different children into special education classes disproportionately to their representation in the general population. What needs to be recognized by measurement experts and educators is that no one test method is sufficient for the assessment of bilingual children. This paper discusses past measurement directions and makes recommendations for the assessment of bilingual, culturally different children.     

对少数民族双语教育幼小衔接的思考

搞好少数民族双语教育的幼小衔接有利于多元文化的发展,帮助儿童语言及学业成绩的提高。双语教育幼小衔接的目标可以分为直接目标与间接目标。在实施双语教育幼小衔接时应注意双语教育目标的小步化,双语教育内容生活化,双语教育组织统整化,双语教育实施活动化。     

Don't speak to me in English: Communication apprehension in Puerto Rico

Comparison of communication apprehension levels of Puerto Rican college students with U.S. mainland students indicate the Puerto Ricans are much less apprehensive about communication in their native language than are the U.S. students but are much more apprehensive about communication in English. Additional findings indicate that apprehension in a first language is a much better predictor of apprehension in a second language than is self‐perceived competence in that second language. It is suggested that the problem of communication apprehension must be addressed by second language teachers if students are to be taught to be truly bilingual.     

Tools for talking: the purposeful and inventive use of languages by bilingual children in primary classrooms

This article is based on a number of observations of bilingual children in an East London primary school, and some work carried out for a doctoral study. The article explores children’s views and perspectives on their use of first and second languages at home and at school. The kernel of the investigation is that language use is dependent on purpose. Bilingual children’s use of their first and second language depends on which language best serves a particular function. Often children who speak two or more languages on a regular basis combine these to create a new language. Schools therefore need to review their language policies and practices in relation to their pupil intake, taking into account the contribution of bilingual experience to children’s overall linguistic development. Teachers also need to understand parents’ views on their children’s language and literacy education. These issues are of vital importance if schools are to provide an inclusive curriculum.     

聋校双语教学简述

双语教学主张把聋人母语和主流社会语言作为聋校教学和交际的语言,使聋人能在聋文化和听文化中成为自由生活的双语平衡者。双语教学是在口语法、全面交流法被认为都不能真正满足聋人发展需要而提出的;双语教学以积极的态度看待聋人,它重视聋人的群体文化;双语教学认为聋人掌握手语可以促进英语的学习。双语教学需要聋人教师参与,需要家长学会手语。双语教学也接受聋童进行听觉言语训练     

Bilingual poetry: expanding the cognitive and cultural dimensions of children's learning

Stories and poetry have long been considered a resource for the language and literacy development of bilingual children, particularly if they can work with texts in both mother tongue and English. This paper demonstrates that bilingual learning is also beneficial for second and third‐generation children whose English is often stronger than their mother tongue. Presenting data from an action research project in East London primary schools, we show how children investigated metaphor and cultural content in a Bengali lullaby, clarifying concepts through dialogue with their parents. Comparison with a lullaby in English from North America generated additional ideas concerning different cultural values. The learning process enabled children to use their bilingual skills and draw on different aspects of their bicultural identities. Finally, we explain how bilingual poetry can be used to stimulate learning in a multilingual classroom context, through the example of a whole‐class lesson based around Bengali and English lullabies.     

Bilingualism and phonological awareness: the case of bilingual (French–Occitan) children

The present study investigated the development of linguistic awareness in children exposed to the early learning of a second language in Grades 3–5 of primary school, i.e. between the ages of 8 and 10. The aim was to determine whether this bilingual experience enhanced the development of phonological awareness in beginning readers in a bilingual French-regional language school programme compared with a population of monolingual children receiving traditional education. More specifically, in light of research promoting the hypothesis of a “bilingual advantage”, we set out to determine exactly how long children need to be exposed to a second language before bilingualism starts to influence the development of their phonological awareness. Tasks designed to assess phonological awareness were administered to more than a hundred children. Results suggest that children who have undergone a bilingual school programme display a more highly developed phonological awareness than their monolingual peers from age 9 onwards, i.e. in Grade 4. These results are discussed in the light of ongoing research on bilingualism, bilingual education and threshold theory.     

聋教育语言沟通法体系的发展和改革

从手语法，口语法到综合沟通法，聋教育语言沟通法伴随着激烈的急诊走过了200多年的发展历史，今天，面对国外双语教学法的冲击，我国聋教育该作如何选择？本在描述及分析沟通法的发展历史和现状的基础上，认为创立符合汉民族语言和化特征的聋教育沟通法体系，才是我国聋教育语言教学的发展和改革方向。     

Effect of an Intervention Program on “Hign Risk” Spanish American Children1, 2

Abstract

Mental ability, language development (English), language development (Spanish) and self-image changes were studied as effects of an early intervention program for preschool children. Ss were fifty 3-, 4-, and 5-year old children from disadvantaged backgrounds and from bilingual cultures. Sa also exhibited a number of additional handicapping factors. Differences between groups (N = 30 for experimental and N = 20 for control) were analyzed with analysis of covariance utilizing pretest scores as covariates. Results indicated that intervention Ss made significantly greater gains in mental ability, language (English), and made greater gains in language (Spanish). Also, intervention subjects demonstrated a positive growth in self-image.     

和田地区中小学"维汉"双语教育三种主要模式及分析

科学的双语教育理论应该建立在科学地划分双语教育类型的基础上.文章按照学校的语言文化环境将和田地区中小学的双语教育模式大体分为民族学校模式、汉族学校模式、民汉合校模式等三个类型,从理论依据、教学目标、操作程序、操作策略等角度对其进行分析.     

中国留学生在美国的师生互动压力：以美国某大学为例

本文从师生互动的维度解析了中国留学生在美国大学中的学业压力因素.四种因素构成了中国学生和美国教授互动的主要压力因素:语言功力不足、缺少对学业的自治和自主引领、言语表达的被动性、交流模式的非直接性.中国学生的压力是中关两种文化模式和教育模式碰撞合力作用的结果.这为反思中国教育的问题提供了有效切入点.本文从英语语言教育和转变人才培养观念两个方面为中国教育提出了相应的建议.并指出中国学生应进行"深层结构性社会文化转化",充分适应美国大学的学术文化,与美国教授形成良性互动,最终减缓跨文化所带来的压力.     

双语教学：意义诠释与推进策略

民汉双语教学是一项既能引导少数民族学生适应当下生活,又能使少数民族语言得到繁荣发展,民族文化得到发扬光大,还能促进各民族广泛交流,进而达到相互了解和和谐发展的系统工程。然而,当前我国民汉双语教学却存在着教材缺乏且适切性不强,教师数量不足、质量不高,教学模式选择科学性不强,教学研究不深入等一系列问题,这种现状远不能实现民汉双语教学所承载的使命。因此,一定要重视双语教材的建设,创新双语师资培养途径和培训方法,提升双语教学的研究水平。只有这样方能将民汉双语教学推向一个新的阶段。     

Language preference and its relationship with reading skills in English and Spanish

A dearth of research has investigated the language preference of bilingual childhood populations and its subsequent relationship to reading skills. The current study evaluated how a sequential bilingual student's choice of language, in a particular environmental context, predicted reading ability in English and Spanish. The participants were Latino children ranging in age from 7 years, 5 months, to 11 years, 6 months, with 43% born in the United States. Results showed a relationship between a child's higher English language preference for media and for communication with others outside the family and better reading skills in English. Language preference differences predicted reading abilities better for English than for Spanish. Results suggested that sequential bilingual children's language preference may be a useful marker of English language (second language [L2]) facility and use that is related to their reading proficiency or influences the development of English reading skills in such bilingual children in the United States. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 44: 171–181, 2007.     

Inclusive practice? Supporting isolated bilingual learners in a mainstream school

This paper is based on action research carried out in a primary school in Scotland where few bilingual learners shared their home language with classmates or staff. It investigated the educational experiences of bilingual children in the early stages of primary school, in which there were often practical difficulties supporting isolated learners in using their home language in school. It tracked a cohort of isolated bilingual learners over a period of two years and considered how theories of support for bilingual learners can be applied to isolated learners. It identified two themes: support for new arrivals who are at the early stage of acquisition of English and how monolingual schools can show that they value home languages and promote bilingual skills. The research reveals techniques for tackling the very real social issue of bilingual learners in monolingual classrooms, a topic of currency in today’s climate. It engages with concepts of pupil difference, practices of social justice and inclusion, as well as consideration of a quality curriculum for all students. The study reflects on practical arrangements for new arrivals, working with parents unfamiliar with the education system and creating opportunities for pupils to use and share their home language within school.     

Phonological awareness in monolingual and bilingual English and Greek five‐year‐olds

This study examined and compared levels of phonological awareness in monolingual and bilingual English and Greek five‐year‐olds. Sixty‐eight children from Britain and Cyprus, matched on the basis of age, gender, non‐verbal and verbal IQ, were assigned to four groups: two bilingual (English‐Greek, Greek‐English) and two monolingual (English, Greek). Performance of the four groups on a set of six phonological tasks was compared. Bilingual children were given both English and Greek versions of the tasks; monolingual children were given the phonological tasks in their mother tongue only. Given the results of previous research, it was predicted that bilingual children would show higher levels of phonological awareness than monolingual. The children tested in Britain were already being taught to read in school, whereas those tested in Cyprus were not. On the basis of previous research, it was further predicted that there would also be effects of learning to read in an alphabetic language, such that the bilingual children tested in Britain would show higher levels of phonological awareness at the level of the phoneme than their counterparts tested in Cyprus. Results showed that the bilingual English‐Greek children significantly outperformed the monolingual English children, but this pattern was not replicated in the bilingual Greek‐English/monolingual Greek comparisons. This difference is discussed in terms of the bilingual enhancement effect, which, according to the present data, seems to occur only when bilingual children are exposed to a second language that is phonologically simpler than their first language. Results also showed that English‐Greek bilingual children performed significantly better than Greek‐English bilinguals, especially on tasks requiring phoneme awareness. This accords well with suggestions that learning to read in an alphabetic language promotes this level of phonological awareness.     

English-bilingual biology for standard classes development,implementation and evaluation of an English-bilingual teaching unit in standard German high school classes

English connects all areas of science around the world. Productive and receptive English-language skills are thus a crucial tool that schools must provide their students with in order to prepare them for higher education and professional life. The introduction of bilingual instruction of subject matter, often referred to as Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL), allows for incorporating English as a medium of communication directly into the science classroom. However, such bilingual lessons are often only accessible in the context of bilingual programmes for which students have to qualify based on their previous performance. The present study assessed the applicability of bilingual modules in non-selected groups of students. For this, a bilingual teaching unit on immunology was developed and implemented in standard German ninth grade classes. After the unit, bilingually taught students showed the same content knowledge gains as their peers who had been taught solely in their native language. Average achievement motivation ratings before and after the unit were medium to high in all classes, and the majority of students was open to more bilingual lessons. An evaluation of student comments provides further indications for the development of future bilingual units.     

The Shared Income Tax and School Support in Wisconsin

Abstract

This study compared the effectiveness of the discovery and verbal reception teaching methods as a function of instructional language in unilingual and bilingual subjects. Unilingual subjects were taught in English while bilingual subjects were taught in either their primary language, Spanish, or their secondary language, English. The results indicated that regardless of language or method of instruction, bilingual subjects took longer to acquire the conceptual rule than unilingual subjects. The retention and transfer performance of unilingual and bilingual subjects taught in their primary language was best when the verbal reception method was used. When taught in their secondary language, however, the retention of bilingual subjects was better following the discovery method.     

民族地区双语教学成效与问题调查研究——以西藏拉萨地区的双语教学为例

西藏自治区推行的以汉为主加授藏语文的双语教学模式是我国藏区最有效的双语教学模式之一,为了更加完善这一模式,我们就双语教学模式问题以拉萨地区为对象进行了调查研究。通过对藏汉双语教学模式教学目标的调查、藏汉双语教学模式操作策略的调查、藏汉双语教学模式成效评价的调查和影响藏汉双语教学模式因素的调查发现,藏汉双语教学模式在目标方面存在城乡差异,农村学生更加注重汉语言知识的学习与掌握;藏族学生的语言基础在城乡方面存在显著性差异,藏族教师在使用讲授法和训练法方面没有显著差异,在使用以直接感知为主的教学方法、演示法和活动法上有显著差异,说明教师教学方法是影响双语教学操作策略的重要因素。藏汉双语模式下学生的双语言发展还是取得了显著成效。居住环境、语言态度、双语教学效果是影响双语教学模式的三大因素。     

Bilingualism and learning: The effect of language pair on phonological awareness abilities

Children first exposed to English as a second language when they start school are at risk for poor academic outcome. They perform less well than their monolingual peers, matched for socio-economic background, at the end of primary school on measures of language and literacy, despite immersion in English at school. Previous research suggests, however, that some bilingual children do better on phonological awareness (PA) tasks than monolinguals in preschool. Two experiments investigated the effect of language pair on PA by comparing monolingual and bilingual children's syllable, onset rime, phoneme and tone awareness using detection, deletion and segmentation tasks. Experiment 1 compared bilingual Putonghua-Cantonese children with two matched monolingual control groups. The bilingual group had enhanced phonological awareness. However, the monolingual Putonghua speakers performed better on the phoneme detection task. Experiment 2 compared Cantonese-English bilingual children and controls monolingual in Cantonese. While there was no overall group difference in PA, the bilingual children had better tone awareness. The profile of findings is considered for possible explanations of later literacy difficulties.     

Language Use Contributes to Expressive Language Growth: Evidence From Bilingual Children

The unique relation of language use (i.e., output) to language growth was investigated for forty‐seven 30‐month‐old Spanish–English bilingual children (27 girls, 20 boys) whose choices of which language to speak resulted in their levels of English output differing from their levels of English input. English expressive vocabularies and receptive language skills were assessed at 30, 36, and 42 months. Longitudinal multilevel modeling indicated an effect of output on expressive vocabulary growth only. The finding that output specifically benefits the development of expressive language skill has implications for understanding effects of language use on language skill in monolingual and bilingual development, and potentially, for understanding consequences of cultural differences in how much children are expected to talk in conversation with adults.