What does it mean to know a second language OR Am I bilingual

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What does it mean to know a second
language?ORAm I bilingual?

• Language Series for French 101
• Spring 2006
• Professor Virginia Scott

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Goals for the 4 sessions of the 101b Language
Series

• WE WANT TO
• engage you in discussions about what it means to
  know a second language
• review current theories about language learning,
  bilingualism, and the language brain
• invite you to participate in developing goals for
  life-long second language learning and
  cross-cultural sensitivity

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Language questions ?

• What does it mean to know another language?
• Do adults acquire a second language (L2) the way
  children acquire their native language (L1)?
• What is the best age for acquiring a L2?
• How do age, motivation, attitude, gender,
  learning style affect L2 acquisition?

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More questions ??

• What is the role of grammar instruction in L2
  acquisition?
• What is the role of interaction in L2
  acquisition?
• What is the role of error correction in L2
  acquisition?
• How do listening, speaking, reading, and writing
  contribute to L2 acquisition?

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Two theories that make sense

• Stephen Krashen
• The Monitor Model
• M. Canale and M. Swain
• Communicative Competence

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The Monitor Model
Principles and Practice in Second Language
Acquisition (1981)

• FIVE HYPOTHESES
• acquisition / learning are two different
  processes (spontaneous vs. conscious)
• natural order (grammar is acquired in a
  predictable order in a natural setting)
• monitor (learning functions only as an editor, or
  monitor)
• input (comprehensible input is essential for
  acquisition)
• affective filter (acquisition occurs when
  affective conditions are optimal, i.e., low
  anxiety, motivation, confidence, etc.

Stephen Krashen
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Communicative competence
Hola! Hello!
1. Grammatical competence mastery of
linguistic code 2. Sociolinguistic competence
knowledge of social and cultural rules 3.
Discourse competence ability to connect
sentences coherently 4. Strategic competence
ability to use verbal and non-verbal
communication strategies Canale and Swain (1983)
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So what?

• Are these theories operating in my French class?
• If so, HOW?
• Am I, or will I be, bilingual?

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Demystifying bilingualism
No one has the same level or the same type of
proficiency in two (or more) languages!
je parle
ich spreche
yo hablo
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There are at least 37 definitions of bilingual.

• Balanced bilingual mastery of two languages is
  roughly equivalent
• Covert bilingual someone who hides knowledge of
  another language because of an attitudinal
  dispositon
• Dominant bilingual greater proficiency in one
  of the two languages
• Early bilingual someone who acquired both
  languages in childhood
• Late bilingual someone who became bilingual
  later than childhood
• Receptive bilingual someone who understands but
  does not read or write
• Secondary bilingual someone whose second
  language had been added to a first via
  instruction
• Incipient bilingual someone at the early stages
  of bilingualism

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There are many places a person can become
bilingual.

• at home
• at school
• traveling
• when youre in love
• in the work place

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Attitudes about bilingualism

• In the 19th century people believed that being
  bilingual was detrimental to intellectual and
  spiritual growth.
• In the early 20th century some studies indicated
  that bilingual children had lower IQs than
  monolingual children.
• Today, some bilingual speakers may be encouraged
  to suppress their minority language in favor of
  the culturally dominant language.

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Cognitive advantages of bilingualism

• Creative thinking
• Flexible thinking
• Faster learning
• Larger vocabulary
• Greater sensitivity in communication

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Code-switching is

• one indicator of whether a person is bilingual.
• the alternating use of two or more languages in
  a single conversation event.
• is a natural, observable occurrence among
  people of all ages who speak more than one
  language.
• is the norm for many bilinguals.

Le prof, elle est really nice.
Yeah So, do you want to go prendre un verre now?
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Where are you on the bilingual continuum?

• Can you understand French?
• Can you speak French?
• Can you read? Write?
• Do you engage in word play with French?
• Do you code-switch?
• ARE YOU BILINGUAL?

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Summary

• Our French curriculum at Vanderbilt endorses a
  communicative approach that is designed to
  develop listening, speaking, reading, and writing
  to encourage linguistic and cultural awareness
  AND to move you along the continuum toward
  becoming bilingual.