Teaching Foreign Language in Elementary Schools » Uncategorized

Creative Blog Post:

laz15 — Sat, 10 May 2008 02:28:43 +0000

Working Towards the Solution to the US lack of a Solid Bilingual Population:

It is undeniable that the goal of having a majority of US schools begin to introduce early foreign language programs into their elementary schools poses significant challenges. Making such major changes in the ways which schools currently run could be confronted with major problems, such as in the case that funding would fall through and or be inadequate to cover the total expense involved throughout the program’s development. In addition, if not enough competent foreign language teachers can be found, the program is bound to fail. Concerns such as these provide much of the reason for why introducing new programs, such as elementary school foreign language programs, never get off the ground.

However, since this issue of foreign language education is such an important one, schools need to look into the ways of avoiding such problems. Many resources are available for schools to tap into as they introduce elementary school foreign language programs. Such resources provide guidance, funding, support, answers to questions, and additional resources to take advantage of.

The US is at a critical point where it needs to turn its attention to making its population better able to communicate within a global context. Therefore, it cannot surrender itself to a fate of remaining a predominantly monolingual nation just due to the fact that obstacles exist in the path of becoming a bilingual nation. In order to overcoming the daunting obstacles, communities and school districts within the US need to seek the aids and resources that will help them establish elementary school foreign language programs. By doing so they will help the US inch closer towards becoming a nation with a bi/multilingual population.

Important websites that provide information on development of foreign language programs in the elementary schools include:

American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)

http://www.actfl.org

Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL)

www.cal.org

National Network for Early Language Learning (NNELL)

www.nnell.org

National Association for Bilingual Education(NABE)

http://www.nabe.org/

Joint National Committee for Languages (JNCL)

http://www.languagepolicy.org/

Three Ways Gore Uses Visual Media in Presentation

laz15 — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:57:01 +0000

When looking at Gore’s presentation, the three ways that Gore enriched his presentation which I noted were by using actual images, by using short animated clips, and by showing statistical images. Many of the actual images that Gore presented were those that showed the environment and how it has been altered by global warming. For instance, he showed images of many different glaciers around the world as they had been prior to the influence of man-induced global warming in comparison with images of these same glaciers as they are seen today. The differences are very significant and this difference weighs heavily on the mind of the viewer. Similarly, images are also shown of major lakes in the world which have greatly diminished in size in recent years because of the problem of global warming. In addition, Gore shows images of humans suffering that were caused by natural disasters influenced to a great extent by global warming. Such images strongly impact the audience, who can sympathize with the suffering of others. In addition, I thought it was effective how Gore uses the image of the globe almost as an anchoring device to constantly reinforce the purpose of his presentation. This image was that of the earth as seen from space. He keeps the central issue in focus throughout the presentation by using this unifying image. The image continuously reminds the audience of what is at stake with in this issue; that is, in a sense, earth’s integrity. The image of the earth reoccurs as Gore moves through the spans of his argument. The first image he presents is the first photograph ever taken of the earth from space. He continues to use the image during the presentation, such as when he shows the changes in the atmosphere occurring in a day. At the end, he effectively concludes his presentation by showing the earth image again, then showing an image of the earth that is taken from way out in space and represents the earth as a tiny speck. He appeals to the audience in this way by stating how man’s entire history has occurred on that tiny speck. In order to maintain it as a home, people need to be more conscious in caring for it.

The animated clips that Gore showed are influential for the audience’s reception of the message. Although I did not particularly like the first cartoon strip he show of the little girl having global warming explained to her, this clip did simplify the explanation and effects of global warming, making them easily grasped by individuals lacking a solid science background. The clip with the swimming polar bear who cannot find an iceberg to rest on is also effective because it is a simple illustration of one of the outcomes resulting from global warming. Many animal lovers have a fondness for polar bears, especially children, so this example affects them. An individual’s knowledge of what it feels like to be swimming around for a long time without a wall to cling to further helps members of the audience to grasp the importance of working to change the global warming problem. Another animated clip that Gore uses for a humorous effect is that of a frog sitting in a boiling pot of water. This clip makes the audience laugh because it seems so silly that a frog would not jump out of the water which has become more and more dangerous to it over time, yet Gore is able to effectively apply this theory to the way people are acting who do not take action on the problem of global warming as it continues to destroy our home.

Gore’s use of statistical images also drives home the seriousness of global warming. He uses various graphs and charts that illustrate aspects of the global warming problem. For instance, he uses a line graph that shows the rise in global temperature across time. Viewers are able to see how relatively constant the line is until it reaches the point in history corresponding to the industrial revolution where it rises dramatically and continues to skyrocket, placing it now at a point on the graph that is so much higher than the others that Gore needs a scissor lift to be able to point to our current position. Furthermore, Gore shows figures such as a pie graph to illustrate the U.S. contribution to the problem in terms of CO₂ emissions.

The effect of these visuals was that they gives viewers a clear and comprehensive understanding of the issue, problem, and stakes involved in the topic of global warming. It makes the information easier for viewers to comprehend and thereby put their understanding to use to reach solutions. The way the visual images are used enables the information to hit home with the viewer because they are images that people can easily recognized, remember, and sympathize with. The humor that is incorporated in various places throughout the presentation helps to keep the viewer’s interest and attention. In this way Gore can effectively send his message which has a more serious nature.

Response to film “An Inconvenient Truth”

laz15 — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:24:39 +0000

I thought that the film An Inconvenient Truth was a very effective piece of risk communication on the issue of global warming. In his presentation, Al Gore effectively uses a mix of language and visuals to instill the importance of his message in the viewers. The placement of this presentation in a documentary gives an additional point of view from which the viewer is able to consider the substance of the presentation and the man giving the presentation. Being within a documentary, the message is given a more personal aspect, for the viewer gains a better understanding of the reasons and credentials that Al Gore has for giving these presentations. Some of the things we get from the documentary, which we would not have just from the presentation, include certain life experiences that drew him to this cause, the research, study, and investigation that he has done on this topic which qualifies him as a good source of information, and the personal experience, such as the death of his sister and the accident of his son, which directed him to these important realizations concerning the urgency of the global warming problem. With this insight, the message is more personalized and, therefore, more appealing.

With the issue of global warming, there is much at stake. One of the things that Gore emphasizes as being at stake is our ability to live on the earth and continue to have it as our home. His appeal is that planet earth is our only place to live therefore all people should make it their responsibility to protect it. I feel that this appeal is very effective because of the very strong tie that everyone has to their home. There is a certain emotional component to this reference that cannot go undetected by the viewer. It is an appeal that is universally understood, having the same effect on people no matter their home country. In addition, Gore acknowledges the stake of our future generations and the effects that our actions now have on their wellbeing.

I liked the way Gore uses undeniable evidence to show that our influence on global warming is causing significant problems to the environment. For instance, he discusses the testing that has been done and observations made by extracting a drilling of ice that shows yearly differences among ice layers. It was interesting how he notes that scientists can tell when a certain year was in the ice layer by the amount of CO₂found in the section. Also, the pictures he compares against each other of how glaciers looked years ago as compared to today were very compelling evidence to evoke sentiments of the urgency for change.

In relating the information to his audience, Gore deals with the challenge of getting through to people without the interference of politics. Many people in the audience might have had initial reservations about what Gore would say because of his political background. I was leery about the information that would be presented by Gore before I watched the documentary because I figured that there had to be some underlying political or personal ambition that motivated his presentations. However, I soon found that this was not really the case. Gore tries to gain support across party lines for this issue. He does not include much in the way of politics in speaking on this issue. The references he does make are positive ones, such as when he states that this issue has nothing to do with what political party you are in, but that it is an issue that affects all of society, regardless. He appeals to the audience that this concern is an ethical one and should be properly considered by everyone for the benefit of all.

Throughout the documentary, Gore establishes a strong appeal to ethos, pathos, and logos. He establishes his ethos right away with his remark that he “was the next president of the United States.” His authority on this topic is perceived by the audience since they are aware of his prominent place in politics, which allows him access to an abundance of inside information. Yet, more convincing is that fact that he shares with the audience that he had organized hearings on the subject of global warming when he was in the Senate, that he wrote a book on this topic, and that he has made multiple trips to places of the world where scientists are in the process of collecting data and making observations. He also establishes an appeal to ethos in the way that he presents himself. He establishes a sense of his goodwill among the viewers, as he does not advocate a political stance, but rather shows his sincerity and concern for the issue without limitation. References to his childhood and family life on the farm also give the audience a more approachable and trustworthy figure as they judge the source of the information that he presents. He presents the audience with a more down-to-earth figure who can be related with. Gore’s appeal to pathos comes through in the way that he emphasizes the seriousness of this issue. He makes that audience entirely aware of the fact that this issue directly affects everyone and so everyone has the obligation to play their part in order to fix it. He acknowledges the issue of global warming as ethical or moral issue. He really emphasizes the fact that the way people choose to act regarding this issue does not just affect them, but everyone else around them, so a heavy responsibility rests on their shoulders to act in the best interest of all people. That is, without question, to work to solve or mitigate the problems that cause global warming. The majority of people hold ethical and moral concerns as high priorities. By placing the issue in this context, he is able to touch upon an emotional component held by the viewer and therefore enabling him to more effectively incite the viewer to act. In addition, his use of visuals and humor provides a solid appeal to pathos. These elements help him relate his information more effectively to his audience. The visuals help the audience to see the concrete effects that global warming has on the earth. By explaining how global warming contributes greatly to natural disasters, such as hurricanes, floods, and droughts, as well as how it has serious implications on the lives of wild animals, such as polar bear and birds, Gore illicit concern from the viewer. Gore also firmly appeals to logos with respect to examples and visual evidence he gives. For example, in citing the extent of agreement that exists among the scientific community with regards to the seriousness of the issue of global warming and society’s contribution to it, Gore leaves it hard to argue against his position.

I was amazed by all that I had learned from the documentary. I realize that a lot of the success in getting the seriousness of the issue through to me was due to the effectiveness of Gore’s presentation.

Three Images Relating to My Topic

laz15 — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 02:24:20 +0000

Three Images that relate specifically to my topic include:

1. A graph showing the portion of the US population which is bilingual compared to the proportions in the European Union and other countries of the world2. Images of students learning in a foreign language classroom3. Images of the development of children’s brains with respect to area that corresponds to language in the brain The graph would provide a useful representation of just how behind the US is when it comes to progress in foreign language education. This visual would make a clear impact upon the viewer because the discrepancies are so prominent between our nation’s bilingual population and the populations of other nations around the world. Problems which might be faced with this type of representation include that fact that a graph cannot represent the entire picture of the situation. Such factors that could cause the presentation to be deceiving include the differing sizes of various populations, the distribution of the bilingual population within a nation, the situational factors which cause it to be a necessity for some nations to be bi/multi-lingual, and the relative wealth available to nations in order to pursue foreign language education as an additional discipline in their schools. In order to address these problems, I would need to establish a clear framework for the context of the visual. For instance, I would need to accompany the visual with adequate explanatory text. Images of students learning foreign languages in a classroom would be useful in getting the idea out there that several schools have undertaken the challenge to incorporate foreign language education in their curricula. Showing situations in such classrooms helps promote the idea of other schools’ foreign language program develop. However, some such images run the risk of being perceived as deceptive. Most know that when photographs are being taken to promote a cause the situations are staged and are not often accurate to the true situation. For instance, a photograph might show a foreign language teacher working one-on-one with a student who practices reading or speaking in the foreign language. However, in most typical classrooms this situation of continuous personal attention is not feasible for a teacher. To avoid these types of problems I would need to select images that look like they are taken in the actual context of the real situation. Another way to avoid problems is to include brief statements about where the picture was taken and informative background about it.

Images that show a child’s developing brain and its activity in areas related to language learning help to show the scientific basis behind the reasoning that children are most equipped biologically to successfully acquire a second language. Such an image might be used in comparison with the brain images of older children and adults. This comparison would be very useful because it would highlight the differences between children learners as compared to adolescent and adult learners when it comes to language learning. With these types of images, one of the problems that might be encountered is that often with scientific data what is being seen has to be thoroughly explained by an expert. Since few things in science are clear and simple, such explanations have the chance of confusing the general public. In confronting this problem, I would have to thoroughly understand the explanations given by the experts on the image and paraphrase the explanations in more understandable terms.

3 Situations to respond to with Press Release

laz15 — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:50:54 +0000

In the article “How to Create Powerful Press Releases,” by Judith Welsh several methods to create an effective press release are outlined and shown through press release examples. Welsh begins the article by giving her reasons for publishing a book on writing press releases. She explains how little attention has been given to this matter, since press releases are short texts, but how important it is to create a solid message that focuses on the key point for which the press release is written. Next she provides ten reasons for making press releases.

When I asked myself, in imagining that I was writing a press release, “ ‘why am I writing this?’ “ (Welsh 9) I was able to pick out certain possible reasons from the list given by Welsh. Regarding my topic, three situations in which I might publish a press release include 1) To inform the public, 2) To attract an audience, and 3) To educate a specific group. In the case of informing the public, I would be calling to attention the need for local schools to create elementary school foreign language programs. In the case of attracting an audience, I would focus on the benefits associated with children starting to learn a foreign language at a young age. In the case of educating a specific group, I would focus on the scientific findings that support the idea of beginning foreign language programs early.

In this type of rhetorical situation, I will need to appeal to the audience in concise terms that focus their attention on the message I am intending to get across. For this reason, I need to make sure to write clearly and correctly to make for smooth and easy reading for the audience. This way they are more open to the message because it is well written. I will also need to make sure that I make the topic interesting so that it grabs attention, but not so that it overstates the message to the point where the audience questions the validity of it.

“A BUT B statements”

laz15 — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 14:45:48 +0000

“A BUT B statements ” of a problem:

In chapter 10 of Having Your Say, the authors address the topic of “A BUT B statements.” “A BUT B” statements clearly identify a problem by showing a clash between a statement expressing an important goal, desired state, or value and a condition that prevents the thing of importance from being achieved. This sense of tension is what manifests as the problem of a situation. Here is an “A BUT B statement” that I can apply to my topic:

(A) To learn a foreign language to the extent of being highly competent in the understanding and usage of the language, it is necessary that individuals be exposed to language education at a very early age when they are most capable of acquiring languages; but since foreign language programs in the US are typically only introduced after elementary school, students cannot develop the essential abilities for language comprehension and usage since the innate factors which enable young children to acquire languages easily and efficiently have disappeared to a considerable extent.

Response to the article “Risk Communication, the West Nile Virus Epidemic, and Bioterrorism: Responding to the Communication Challenges Posed by the Intentional or Unintentional Release of a Pathogen in an Urban Setting”

laz15 — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 05:12:37 +0000

The article “Risk Communication, the West Nile Virus Epidemic, and Bioterrorism: Responding to the Communication Challenges Posed by the Intentional or Unintentional Release of a Pathogen in an Urban Setting” focuses on the problem of the obstacles that hinder communication efforts in major risk situations. The cases that this article uses to illustrate this problem are the West Nile Virus Epidemic in New York in 1999 and 2000 and the existing threat of bioterrorism attacks.

An important part of this article is its addressing of the complications in transmitting effective risk communication messages to the public which result from the way the audience of the communication effort perceives the message. A major problem is that, in high risk or crisis situations, multiple influences and factors affecting peoples’ emotions obstruct the way they process information, causing them to not think and act reasonably at a time when logical and reasonable actions are critical to the situation’s outcome.

The article discusses what it calls the “Risk Communication Perspective.” This deals with the problems that occur in the exchange of information in risk communication. It identifies how risk communication can be inadequate, and similarly, the factors that cause citizens to not respond appropriately to risk communication. The article takes a look at risk communication in terms of four theoretical models, reflecting the nature of the transmission and processing of risk related information. These include the “Risk Perception Model,” the “Mental Noise Model,” the “Negative Dominance Model,” and the “Trust Determination Model.”

When examining the case of the West Nile Virus Epidemic, it is possible to identify the agent, action, motive, and outcome of the case. The agent was the New York City Department of Health. The action was the risk communication effort that the NYC Department of Health produced. This was in the form of “a detailed response plan that included public education and outreach”. The motive was the city’s need to combat the epidemic. This motive was reflected in the three objectives of NYC Department of Health’s public education and outreach plan. The objectives were “to improve the public’s awareness of risk for disease”, “to improve the public’s participation in eliminating potential breeding sites [of the mosquitoes]”, and “to provide timely and accurate information related to insecticide spraying.” The outcome of the risk communication effort was stated in the article as such: “In general, the New York City risk communication effort related to the West Nile Virus epidemic was far-reaching, resource intensive, competently handled, and effective. At the same time, several areas for improvement can be noted.” The “areas for improvement” are characterized by the communication effort’s lack of concern directed towards the understanding of stakeholders’ values and concerns regarding the crisis.

My topic does not fall under the category of high-risk or crisis communication, so many aspects of this article can not be directly related to my project. However, certain important ideas brought up in the article are useful to consider. For instance, it is very important that I carefully evaluate the perception of the risk of the stakeholders in my issue. The article brings up the point that “[s]ustained interaction and exchange of information with stakeholders about identified areas of concern” is an essential factor of effective risk communication. Another aspect of this article that I consider useful to my topic is ideas of establishing and maintaining the trust of my audience. I realize that this is a very important feature to develop in my project, and that I must be attentive to providing communication that can be trusted by my audience.

Response to “Introduction: Examining the Blog-Media Relationship”

laz15 — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 17:17:21 +0000

Reading the article “Introduction: Examining the Blog-Media Relationship” by Mark Tremayne brought several things to my attention. There were numerous instances that this article applied to issues which could be translated over to my topic. For instance the article addressed the types of blogs that exist. From this information, I was able to identify my blog as a filter blog, because it has the outward focus of bringing information to the readers’ attention and directing them to other useful information relating to the topic, via links, which serve to further inform my audience on the importance of beginning foreign language education early at the elementary levels. Another thing that this article addressed was the role blogs play in the accumulation of ideas through a social network. These social ties are created by using links. Links allow information to make its way to a greater audience, therefore having more feedback which provides other areas to be explored. When trying to get an audience to see the importance of the issue you are addressing, in my case the need from elementary school foreign language instruction, it is essential for you to provide adequate information supporting your reasons. In addition, I found it useful to note that identifying other related blog posts to link to is also very essential because it is important to have additional ideas to go along with the ones that you are trying to assert since they provide backup to your ideas. Others who address your topic or one similar to it are important for this reason. Posted comments received as a response to a particular blog are also useful in that it allows the readers input to your topic. Perhaps they know something particularly recent that has just come out about your topic. By posting such information, the readers help to keep you informed of new angles taken on your topic, which is useful to further developing it.

Response to the Readings on Blogging:

laz15 — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 08:29:22 +0000


Response to "Introduction: Examining the Blog-Media Relationship"
 
This article provided a strong sense of how powerful blogs are. With the example of the young individual 
who wrote his feelings in a blog, an action that he thought would only be translated to a few but that ended 
up in a short period of time becoming a story covered locally, nationally, and internationally, I started to 
understand the capablities of blogs.  Such an example really makes someone put a good bit of 
consideration in regards to what they should choose to put on a blog and what is best to leave out.  The
article particularly focused on the influence that blogs have on the media. I had no idea it had such an 
immense effect.
 
Response to "Blogging for Better Health:  Putting the "Public" Back in
Public Health:
 
 
I was glad to have read this article, because I know that blogs are very useful sources for finding out up 
to date information about a certain area. The description of health blogs drove this idea home to me 
because there are many situations in life when you are faced with a medical choice, but are unable to judge
what are the best actions to take.  Reading entries on the blog about such topics gives valuable advice and
instruction from those who had dealt with the issue also.  Especially when a serious health issue develops,
such as the occurrence of cancer in your or someone else you love's life, blogs can provide essential 
information along the lines of someones concerns.  In addition, blogs provide support by those who have
been in the same situation and advice from their own experiences.

laz15 — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 08:59:00 +0000

K-W-H-L Statements Topic:

Emphasizing the importance of providing students with a well-rounded education, rather than focusing on a limited range of disciplines.

K: The No-Child-Left-Behind Act has caused school to devote increased attention to the subjects of math and English, and this has cause them to neglect other important subjects, especially those geared towards the creative development of students. Schools have made this move because they are concerned about students’ performance on national standardized testing assessments which concentrate on math and English skills. Schools need to reinstate the importance of teaching diverse topics in the classroom to best help their student success in their future educational and life endeavors. Audience: educators and other educational professionals, parents, students, government law-makers Sources of Information: Elementary Education course at Pitt, articles on the topic of NCLB, educators, documentaries on educators’ experiences with NCLB

W: How can individuals set out to change the NCLB law or alter it in some way so that it does not adversely affect the students in concern? Who is the best target to direct this information towards?

H: Education journals, interviews or correspondences with educators, government websites, educational websites

L: The solution to this topic will probably be difficult to develop because of the complexity of the issue with regards to political aspects of the situation. Educational sources will probably be the best source of researching information on this topic. K-W-H-L Statements Topic:

Implementing language learning in elementary classrooms, instead of waiting to start language instruction in secondary school.

K: Young children pick up languages more easily than older individuals. As individuals age, their ability to acquire languages becomes less acute, therefore making it more difficult to become bilingual. Due to the difficulty of learning a language when one is not introduced to that language early, a majority of people in the US do not pursue learning a foreign language. Many benefits are associated with being a bilingual individual, especially at present when the world continues to become more globalized. Audience: professionals in the education field, both local and national (such as creators of curriculum, individuals on the board of education for various districts), parents

Source of this information: Personal experience, observation of children who started learning a language when they were young, conversations (in education) that suggest this phenomenon

W: Why, with this knowledge of the benefits of early language learning, has there not been a move to introduce languages in the majority elementary classrooms? What are the obstacles that have kept US schools from emphasizing language instruction in comparison to schools in European countries? Who are the main opponents of this idea, and what are the main reasons for their oppositions?

H: Sources for information: Teaching journals, elementary teachers and those in the educational profession who are the main decision makers regarding curriculum, professionals in the field of linguistics, European examples of early language learning in elementary schools

L: From thinking of how to approach this research project, I have become aware that I need to do a lot of research to update myself on where this issue currently stands. Although I am well aware of the topic’s importance to the education of individuals, I do not have a firm foundation for the obstacles that hinder the implementation of language learning at the elementary level.