specialtopicsA

Spring 2012 **SYLLABUS** Chuck Sandy Special Topics charnelsan@mac.com

.... is a **//content-based//** class in which we’ll learn about //a topic// rather than //about// English. Our topic is bilingualism and as we learn about this, you’ll be learning English. We’ll learn about topics such as what bilingualism is, the reasons why people become bilingual, how the bilingual brain develops, bilingual families, bilingual education, and other things as well. At we do, you’ll be learning a lot of English. **Class Goals & Objectives**
 * SPECIAL TOPICS IN BILINGUALISM **
 * to give you more experience with an academic course //in English**.**//
 * to develop your listening, note-taking, and research skills.
 * to increase your //academic// vocabulary in English.
 * to give you an understanding of bilingualism and bilinguals.
 * to help you understand the issues surrounding bilingualism.


 * What We’ll do:** There will be a review, a short lecture, and an activity or a discussion each week. Each lecture will be about 30 minutes long. As I lecture, you’ll complete a worksheet. Then you’ll compare notes with a partner. After that, I’ll go over the lecture material again and expand on the ideas. Finally we’ll do activities or have discussions to review and prepare for the next class.


 * Textbooks:** There is no textbook for this class. Each week I will give you handouts & assignments. Put everything in **a folder**. This folder becomes your textbook. I’ll collect the folder at the end of the semester for a grade.


 * Exams and Papers:** There are thee exams in this course. Exams are open notebook. The three exams are scheduled for **May 17th, June 21st, July 19th.** Also, you must write one short paper in English with at least three references. **This paper is due July 19th.**

.
 * Grades** Exam 1 25% Exam 2 25%% Exam 3 25% Short Paper (1-2 pages) 25%
 * Attendance is expected.** Please email me if you need to be absent. If you are absent, you are responsible for getting the worksheets and doing missed work. Student with 4 unexcused absences will receive an E


 * Class Rules**
 * Try your best to listen and understand. If the class is too hard for you, please let me know. I will help you as much as I can.
 * Please do all of the assigned work and readings before class.
 * Don’t talk while I am lecturing. If you do, I’ll ask you to leave.
 * If you miss a class, get the notes & assignments from a classmate.
 * Don’t be absent. Four missed classes = E


 * Special Topics in Bilingualism Name**
 * Worksheet 1 Number**

Complete these simple definitions:

A monolingual person is someone who A bilingual person is someone who A multilingual person is someone who _

Work with a partner. How many countries can you think of which are **officially** bilingual or multilingual?

How many countries can you think of where the majority of people are probably bilingual or multilingual?

**Special Topics in Bilingualism Name** **Worksheet 2**

** 1 Are these statements true or false? Circle T for true and F for false. When you finish, compare your answers with a partner **.

T F 1 Most people in the world are monolingual.

T F 2 To be bilingual you must be able to use two languages perfectly.

T F 3 There are different kinds of bilingualism

T F 4 Most bilinguals learn their second language as children.

T F 5 It is impossible to become bilingual as an adult.

T F 6 There are many reasons why someone might become bilingual.

** 2 Now, listen to the beginning of my lecture & correct your answers. **

** 3 Listen again and complete the missing information below. **

It is not to be bilingual. In fact, it is uncommon to be only

monolingual. _ % of the people in the world are bilingual or

multilingual. That is, they use two or more languages to conduct the

business of their daily lives. This does not mean that they speak all of

the languages they use perfectly. Very few bilinguals are perfect

bilinguals. Some speak one language better than the other. Some do not

speak their second language at all, but are able to __it or__

_ it. Although many people become bilingual as children, the

majority of the world’s bilinguals become bilingual ___.__

__ There are __ __reasons why a person becomes bilingual. For__

__ example __.


 * Special Topics in Bilingualism Name**
 * Worksheet 3**

Go to Google (in English) and search using the words “Define bilingual” and “Define Bilingualism.” Read **all** definitions. Choose three that you agree with or think are true. Write them below.
 * Before the next class ….**

1

__2__

3

Use this website (or another source of information) to define each of the words below. []

bilingual family _

_

consecutive bilingualism _

simultaneous bilingualism_

receptive bilingualism_

What kind of bilingual are you? _

My kids grew up speaking both English & Japanese at home. What kind of bilinguals are they?


 * WEEK 2**

Special Topics in Bilingualism Name Week2

The ability to use either one of two languages, especially when speaking. www. [|usinfo.state.gov/] Possessing knowledge of two languages. [|www.teach-nology.com/] A person who speaks two languages fluently   [|wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn] Using two languages on a regular basis. www.nethelp.no/cindy/define.html Using two languages in some proportion in order to learn. For example, many bilinguals are native speakers in one language who learn a second language in school. www.bartleby.com/ Ability to use two languages. **Few bilinguals are equally proficient in both languages.** www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/cup/ **Some Kinds of Bilingualism** 1 Receptive bilingual 2 Simultaneous bilingual 3 Consecutive bilingual _ Learns a 2nd language after already knowing another language. _ Learns two languages as "first languages" (from birth) _ Able to understand two languages but speak (or write) only one. _ Kai’s mother is Japanese and his father is American. He’s always lived in Japan but his family always speaks both English & Japanese at home. He lives in Japan but goes to an English speaking international school. He’s used both English and Japanese everyday of his life. _ Junko’s parents are Japanese & her family lives in Japan. They speak Japanese at home, but Junko uses only English at school. She has gone to an English speaking international school since kindergarten. _ Jun is Japanese. He studied English in high school and college. He studied hard but didn’t have many opportunities to speak English at all. When he went to America on a school trip, he discovered that he could understand what people were saying, but he didn’t know how to answer. _ Paulo’s parents are Brazilian. His family came to Japan three years ago because his father & mother got a job at a Sony factory in Okazaki. Paulo is 11 years old and goes to a Japanese elementary school At home his family speaks Portuguese, but at school he uses Japanese every day. His Japanese is not fluent, but he can talk with friends, understand his classes, and do his homework.
 * Are you bilingual?Check the definitions of bilingual & bilingualism that fit you.**
 * What kind of bilinguals are these people? **

What kind of bilingual are you? _

1) Draw an X on the line to show how bilingual you are. è CompletelyNot at all ç 2)Rank these skills from strongest (1)to weakest (5) ___Speaking___Listening___Reading___Writing___Pronunciation 3)For each category, check thelevel that fits your ability.
 * How bilingual are you? Complete this sheet with your own information.**


 * || Like a native || Advanced || High Intermediate || Low intermediate || Beginner || Not at all ||
 * Speaking ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Listening ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Reading ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Writing ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Pronunciation ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Vocabulary ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Cultural Knowledge ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||

Check the places you use your English (or your second language) _home_school_ work_ neighborhood_ travel other
 * 4)**

5) Check the things you often do with English _take classes_ read for information_read for pleasure _use the internet_ communicate with friends _communicate with family _watch movies_ listen to radio_listen to tapes/CDs _keep a journal_ travel_other 6)What’s your goal? How bilingual do you want to be? Draw an X on the line. CompletelyNot at all 7) What are three things you want do be able to do with English in the future?


 * Compare: What are 2 ways your partner is the same & 2 ways your partner is different? **

//How bilingual are you?// //What’s your weakest skill? What’s your strongest skill?// //How’s your (writing)?// //Where do you use English? What do you use English for? Do you use English when you (use the internet?)// //How bilingual do you want to be?// //What are some things you’d like to be able to do with English in the future?//
 * Language you might need to compare with a partner ….**


 * Lecture 2 **


 * a**n **//absolute// term**　 **絶対的語彙　　　　 a //relative// term** **相関的語彙 **
 * a matter of //degree//** **程度を表す ** **//function//** **//機能 //**

As you can see by now, there are many definitions of bilingualism. This is because

T his means that bilingualism has different meanings at different times – depending on who we’re talking about or what our purpose in defining bilingualism is. //Bilingual students at Fort Meyers Elementary School must be able to understand both English and Spanish, as well as express their ideas in speaking and writing…// //Students who want to participate in our home-stay program must be bilingual. This means they should have a basic understanding of English and be able to communicate their wants and needs to their host family…// //_Most of our employees are fully bilingual, able to participate in business meetings conducted in either English or Japanese, meet with international clients, and write business reports in whichever language is most appropriate.// // _Bilingual receptionist wanted: must be able to greet clients in English ….. //
 * Look at how the word “bilingual” is used in these descriptions & number them from **
 * 1 ( requires the highest degree of bilingualism) to 4 (requires the least degree of bilingualism) **

In order to define the words bilingual or bilingualism in a useful way, we always have to consider these two things ……. Degree and Function It’s a matter of both degree and function. Whenever we define bilingualism we always have to think about how bilingual someone is and what they use their bilingualism for. 1) What is your story? How did you become bilingual? How did you, do you, and will you use your bilingualism? Please write a few paragraphs called titled **//My Bilingual Story//** or if appropriate **//My Multilingual Story//** Special Topics in Bilingualism 2012 Name ______________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ 2) When we define bilingualism we have to think about degree and function. Degree means _______________________________________________________ Function means _______________________________________________________ 3) Define these types of bilingualism: Simultaneous Bilingualism _________________________________________________ Consecutive Bilingualism _________________________________________________ Receptive bilingualism _________________________________________________ Social Bilingualism = ____________________________________________________ Personal Bilingualism = ____________________________________________________ Canada: English & French South Africa: 11 official languages including English  Hong Kong: English & Cantonese  India: 18 official languages including English  Singapore: English, Mandarin, Malay & Tamil  USA: ________________________________  Or special districts which are officially bilingual:  In Japan: _____________________________  Koreans / Chinese / Brazilians in Japan  Hispanics in the US || Even in officially monolingual countries, there are often many bilinguals and multilinguals. Personal bilingualism usually develops among… … 1 ____________________________________ 2 ____________________________________  3 ____________________________________  4 ____________________________________  5 ____________________________________  Also, personal bilingualism is common …
 * Homework**
 * Week 3** Number _____________________________
 * REVIEW **1) Why is it so difficult to define the words bilingual and bilingualism?
 * SOCIAL AND PERSONAL BILINGUALISM **
 * SOCIAL BILINGUALISM || PERSONAL BILINGUALISM ||
 * Many countries are officially bilingual or multilingual. This does not mean everyone in is actually bilingual or multilingual.
 * Also, within a country, there are sometimes areas which are officially bilingual. **
 * Sometimes there are large groups of people in a country who are “unofficially” bilingual: **

* In border areas between two countries

______________________________ ______________________________ ||


 * GOVERNMENT POLICIES CONCERNING BILINGUALISM**
 * THE UNITED STATES ** In 1990 14 percent (or 31.8 million) of the population aged over 5 reported speaking a language other than English at home. In 2000, this increased to 18 percent ( 47 million). **Spanish** is the most commonly spoken language in the bilingual population (29.1 million) **Chinese** is the second (2 million) California has 39% non-English speakers. After World War 1, many states in America passed **English-only** laws designed to "Americanize" non-English speakers . This caused many limited English proficient (LEP) students to fall behind in their studies and drop out of school at alarming rates. **The Bilingual Education Act of 1968** --passed during a time of growing immigration --provided government money to encourage local schools to offer bilingual education: using native-language instruction. For example: classes are offered in Spanish **and** in English. Recently, many US states have stopped providing bilingual education and again passed **English-only** laws or have made **English the only official language**


 * Discussion: Are English only laws a good thing? Should immigrants be //forced// to learn the local dominant language? What about their children? Should there be //Japanese only// laws in Japan? **

HOMEWORK


 * Read**

http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/featured_articles/20090320friday.html


 * Explore**

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/03/10/us/20090310-immigration-explorer.html