Language Lizard Update

Dear Reader:

I just returned from the New Jersey Teachers of English as a Second Language/Bilingual Educators (NJTESOL/NJBE) conference where I had the pleasure of presenting with Professor Heather Leaman of West Chester University in Pennsylvania. In our presentation, we talked about resources educators and parents can use to promote language and cultural diversity in the classroom and at home (see this issue’s feature article for more discussion on this topic). It is always uplifting for me to be with a crowd of teachers who are diligently trying to improve the educational experience for the many (and increasing number of) English language learners.

Some educators have suggested that we change the designation “Language Learners” to “Emergent Bilinguals” to better reflect the fact that these individuals are a national resource rather than a deficit. Ofelia Garcia, Jo Anne Kleifgen and Lorraine Falchi make this point in their report, From English Language Learners to Emergent Bilinguals (see “Lizard Recommends” section below for more information). In the report, the authors note that using a student’s home language in the classroom can help emergent bilinguals perform better and support their English language acquisition, a topic we discussed at the conference and is reinforced in the feature article below.

On a separate note, with Father’s Day coming up, we have included a review of the endearing story, My Daddy is a Giant.

Happy reading!

Anneke Forzani
Founder and President
Language Lizard, LLC

Book Review: My Daddy is a Giant
Written by Carl Norac
Illustrated by Ingrid Godon
Ages 1-5
Available in paperback and hard cover, depending on the language
Review by Maureen Pugh

The first thing I noticed about My Daddy is a Giant was its dimensions (8 ½ inches wide by 12 inches tall) and its sturdy cover and quality binding. The vertical format and large pages provide an ample backdrop for the illustrator to portray a little boy and his playful, larger-than-life father. The simple, yet boldly-drawn illustrations depict a sweet, loving relationship between father and son.

Everything about this book is big - from the sizeable type to the exaggerated perception this small child has of his father. After all, even the tired clouds sleep on his daddy’s shoulders! And when his daddy sneezes, “it blows the sea away.”

This daddy runs and plays hide-and-seek, and can “kick the ball as high as the moon.” Yet he also can be beaten at marbles as “his fingers are far too big.” The story conveys the absolute trust this little boy has that his daddy will keep him safe and that his daddy loves him with “all his giant heart.”

As a reader, I was charmed, and reminded of how I viewed my own father when I was very young – he was a giant!

If you’re interested in purchasing this book, please visit the My Daddy is a Giant webpage at: http://www.languagelizard.com/My_Daddy_is_a_Giant_p/dadhb.htm.

Special Subscriber Offer: 10% Discount on My Daddy is a Giant:

Through June 30, 2008 we are offering a 10% discount on the following book:

• My Daddy is a Giant (see product review above) http://www.languagelizard.com/My_Daddy_is_a_Giant_p/dadhb.htm

Simply apply Coupon Code CCS-DAD upon checkout to receive the discount.

To see the difficulty level of these and other Language Lizard books, please visit our “Book Suggestions” page at http://www.languagelizard.com/images/Childrens_Bilingual_Books.pdf

Promoting Language and Cultural Diversity with Dual Language Books
By Anneke Forzani

The number of school children speaking a language other than English at home has increased dramatically over the last few decades. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of speakers of languages other than English among 5-17 year olds in the U.S. increased from 3.8M to 9.5M, while those classified as “English Language Learners” increased from 1.3M to 2.9M. This growth is significantly higher than that of the English speaking population.

At the same time, an increasing body of research demonstrates the importance of helping children build literacy in their home language. Many literacy skills transfer from one language to the other, and children will learn to read, write and speak a second language better if they have a strong foundation in their first language.

There has also been a growing recognition that parental involvement significantly impacts children’s language acquisition, especially if the parents provide their children with a high quality literacy environment from an early age. This, in turn, leads to the best practice that encourages parents to read and speak with kids using their strongest language.

Many educators find it difficult to secure resources that can help their students maintain their home language and encourage home literacy and parental involvement. Bilingual books and CDs are a wonderful resource to help meet the challenge. Such books have text in two languages (usually English and the student’s home language) on each page. The following points outline some of the key benefits of dual-language resources:

• Bilingual books promote the maintenance of home languages. They encourage bilingual children to read in their home language. Teachers can lend the books to children to take home, and many schools have built bilingual classroom libraries for this purpose. Bilingual staff and parents also can read to children in class or make audiotapes for the students. This is a great way to get parents involved in their children’s education. Conducting bilingual “read-alouds” is also a wonderful way to incorporate diversity in the classroom.

• The books make students and families from non-English households feel more welcome. Bilingual books allow families to see/read familiar texts, which can show a respect for their culture. The children will also feel proud to share their culture or see it reflected in the classroom. In some cases the stories may relate to their country, while other books have themes that encourage an acceptance of “being different”.

• Dual-language books provide an excellent opportunity to expand the minds of all children. Bilingual books help teachers introduce the entire class to new languages and stories. They also offer a springboard to educate students about different cultures and traditions. Dual-language stories that help children appreciate and welcome diversity are available and can be particularly useful in diverse classroom settings.

While much more needs to be done to maximize the educational experience of language learners, dual-language materials are excellent resources for supporting the maintenance of home languages and incorporating diversity in the classroom.

Anneke Forzani is President and Founder of Language Lizard, LLC.

© Language Lizard, LLC. 2008.

Want to use this article in your e-zine or web site? Contact Language Lizard President and Founder, Anneke Forzani, at [email protected].