Teaching Bilinguals

 The two articles this week have two differing views on the same topic, and come from very different perspectives and places of power. The first article, "Aria" is a fascinating glimpse into the thoughts of "Richard"/"Ricardo" a man who remembers his youth as a Spanish speaking child of immigrants who is lost and overwhelmed at his English speaking school. The teacher sees his lack of progress and speak with his parents to convince them to begin speaking English at home to help their children succeed in school and life outside of their tight family community. The family follows their advice and Richard sees changes wrought because of their chosen assimilation. It is confusing and difficult, but ultimately he thinks he was better prepared for the world because of this choice his family made. 

"...But the bilingualists simplistically scorn the value and necessity of assimilation...they do not realize that while one suffers a diminished sense of private individuality by becoming assimilated into public society, such assimilation makes possible the achievement of public individuality"

This quote reminds me of Lisa Delpit's article which pointed out the frustrations of those within the system being told the "right way" to do things by predominantly white academics who would "listen, they don't hear". Richard offers his perspective as a learner that he needed to leave his Spanish behind, and follow the example of his parents to welcome the English language into their home lives. 

The second article was a very direct article to guide teachers who are teaching Multilingual children. The recommendations were:

1. Be aware that children use 1st Language acquisition strategies for acquiring a second language.

2. Don't consider yourself a remedial teacher.

3. Don't seek of challenge of eliminate the first language.

4. Teach standard English

5. Don't forbid code-switching.

6. Provide literary development specifically for English Language Learners.

7. Provide a balanced and integrated approach using all 4 skill areas: listening, speaking, reading and writing.

The conflict I see, is between 2 well meaning ideals: multiculturalism and assimilation. Multiculturalism may ignore the idea Lisa Delpit expounded; that "success in institutions - schools, workplaces and so on - is predicated upon acquisition of the culture of those in power."

The lenient view of code switching and openness to utilizing the primary language to assist in learning is against the recommendations of the first author, Richard. He finally found success when he embraced assimilation even though it meant leaving behind his first language and some of the cultural safety he had felt in his family home. 

I was once a new immigrant (though English speaking) in the USA, and it reminded me of the citizenship website here. Most countries will have a cultural guide to their culture and society, and it can be very interesting to look through it!

I think every person's language learning journey is unique. Richard was the son of immigrants. He was a US citizen who did not speak English as his first language. His success in his home country would rely on his choice to lean into his idea of public individuality, even at the expense of his private individuality. He needed to be taught the 'codes' and cultural norms of the public at large, even when it seemed to be at the expense of his family culture. The second article was a general article about language acquisition, the first was a article by a man who understood the culture of power, and showed how he understood that, in this country, power was accessed through the English Language