Linking Language

1
Linking Language Learning 3 Cultures
Communities

• Fall 2006
• Scott, Grenvicz, Schwab, Dessein

2
Series Overview

• This is the last of three power point
  presentations designed to make you think about
  second language learning.
• This presentation begins with guiding questions
  to engage you in the material.
• Discussion questions appear at the end of this
  presentation. You will write your ideas about
  these questions and turn them in to your teacher.

3
Series Overview

• In the first presentation we talked about the
  meaning of COMMUNICATION and what it means to be
  bilingual.
• In the second presentation we made COMPARISONS
  between first and second language acquisition,
  and asked you to use your second language to make
  CONNECTIONS to other areas of interest, such as
  the information about Genie.
• In this presentation we will explore what it
  means to become a L2 USER.
• We will show how learning French helps you gain
  knowledge and understanding of other CULTURES,
  and allows you to participate in multilingual
  COMMUNITIES around the world.

4
Guiding questions

• Discuss the differences between following two
  goals for students studying French
• 1) Students will become bilingual in French and
  English.
• 2) Students will use what they learn in French
  class to develop an understanding of other
  languages and cultures.

5
Becoming an L2 user

• Becoming bilingual is a difficult goal to
  achieve because there is no clear understanding
  of what the term means (think back to our
  conversation about what bilingual means).
• A more realistic goal for our language students
  is to become L2 users.

6
What is an L2 user?

• An L2 user
• uses a language other than L1 at any level for
  any purpose.
• exploits whatever linguistic resources she/he has
  for real-life purposes, such as reporting
  symptoms to a doctor, negotiating a contract, or
  reading a poem.
• stands between two languages (L1 and L2), even
  when apparently only using one.
• has the resources of two languages (L1 and L2)
  readily available whenever needed.
• Cook, V. 2002. Portraits of the L2 User.
  Clevedon, UK Multilingual Matters.

7
What can an L2 user do?

• An L2 user
• uses his/her understanding of L1 and L2 in
  settings where the language and culture are
  unfamiliar.
• is sensitive to cultural similarities and
  differences.
• has a tolerance for ambiguity.
• is a member of the global community.

Quoi?
What?
8
Will studying FRENCH make you an L2 user?

• In 1999, French was the 11th most common first
  language in the world, with 77 million first
  language speakers and another 51 million second
  language speakers.

9
More facts about French

• There are 113 million people who speak French (as
  a native or adopted language) fluently and use it
  on a regular basis.
• There are 61 million people who live in a
  francophone country but do not speak French
  regularly.
• There are 100 to 110 million students of all ages
  who do not live in a francophone country, but
  have learned, or are learning French.
• French is the second most commonly-taught second
  language in the world (after English).

10
Who uses French?

• Amnesty International
• European Union (EU)
• Interpol
• International Olympic Committee
• North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
• North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
• Organization for Economic Cooperation
  Development (OECD)
• Red Cross and Red Crescent
• United Nations (UN)
• World Health Organization (WHO)
• World Trade Organization (WTO)

11
In 2050

• people aged 15-24 will speak the following
  languages (in millions)
• Chinese  166.0  
• Hindi/Urdu  73.7  
• Arabic  72.2  
• English  65.0  
• Spanish  62.8  
• Portuguese  32.5  
• Bengali  31.6  
• Russian  14.8  
• Japanese  11.3  
• Malay  10.5  

12
Being an L2 user in a multilingual world

• Studying French will help you interact with
  people who speak Chinese, Arabic, or Bengali !
• The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign
  Languages recognizes that foreign language study
  sensitizes students to other languages and
  cultures, and prepares them to participate in our
  multilingual world.
• They developed the national Standards for Foreign
  Language Learning in the 21st Century which
  outline learning goals to develop L2 users.

13
National Standards for Foreign Language Learning
in the 21st Century

• The 5 Cs
• Communication communicate in languages other
  than English
• Cultures gain knowledge and understanding of
  other cultures
• Connections connect with other disciplines
• Comparisons develop insight into the nature of
  language and culture
• Communities participate in multilingual
  communities at home and around the world

Specific learning goals are outlined for Chinese,
Classical languages, French, German, Italian,
Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.
14
Statement of philosophy

• Language and communication are at the heart of
  the human experience. The United States must
  educate students who are linguistically and
  culturally equipped to communicate successfully
  in a pluralistic American society and abroad.
  This imperative envisions a future in which ALL
  students will develop and maintain proficiency in
  English and at least one other language, modern
  or classical. People who come to school from
  non-English backgrounds should also have
  opportunities to develop further proficiencies in
  their first language.

15
Standard 1 Communication

• Communicate in Languages Other Than English
• Standard 1.1 Students engage in conversations,
  provide and obtain information, express feelings
  and emotions, and exchange opinions.
• Standard 1.2 Students understand and interpret
  written and spoken language on a variety of
  topics.
• Standard 1.3 Students present information,
  concepts, and ideas to an audience of listeners
  or readers on a variety of topics.

16
Standard 2 Cultures

• Gain Knowledge and Understanding of Other
  Cultures
• Standard 2.1 Students demonstrate an
  understanding of the relationship between the
  practices and perspectives of the culture
  studied.
• Standard 2.2 Students demonstrate an
  understanding of the relationship between the
  products and perspectives of the culture studied.

17
Standard 3 - Connections

• Connect with Other Disciplines and Acquire
  Information
• Standard 3.1 Students reinforce and further
  their knowledge of other disciplines through the
  foreign language.
• Standard 3.2 Students acquire information and
  recognize the distinctive viewpoints that are
  only available through the foreign language and
  its cultures.

18
Standard 4 - Comparisons

• Develop Insight into the Nature of Language and
  Culture
• Standard 4.1 Students demonstrate understanding
  of the nature of language through comparisons of
  the language studied and their own.
• Standard 4.2 Students demonstrate understanding
  of the concept of culture through comparisons of
  the cultures studied and their own.

19
Standard 5 Communities

• Participate in Multilingual Communities at Home
  Around the World
• Standard 5.1 Students use the language both
  within and beyond the school setting.
• Standard 5.2 Students show evidence of becoming
  life-long learners by using the language for
  personal enjoyment and enrichment.

20
Final discussion questions

• Write your ideas about this question and turn
  them in to your teacher
• Describe how your study of French language and
  culture makes you an L2 user. You might consider
  reviewing all three presentations as you
  formulate your answer.
• This Power Point presentation is available at
• http//www.vanderbilt.edu/french_ital/faculty/sco
  tt