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Is it important for young English language learners to read dual language text?
It can be helpful for learners to read texts in both languages. It can provide a quick reference to aid comprehension and fosters an appreciation of the languages. It can be used creatively as a shared reading teaching tool in a bilingual setting. However, it is not a necessary part of learning the language. Often young learners will read one language and ignore the other. Additionally, if the majority language is English, this tends to reduce the desire to read in a minority language. Controversially, English quite frequently becomes the favoured language of choice due to its dominance/status in environments where English is widely used.
The moment a new challenge - especially if it involves digital competency - lands on my plate, my brain goes into overdrive, buzzing with a mixture of nervous apprehension and curiosity. I tend to be full of self doubt. However, I’m also a persister and when I master something I feel a big sense of accomplishment, alongside a recognition that perhaps this was a good idea after all.
Learners with speech and language difficulties may find it difficult to remember words or think or the word they want to use when they are talking.
Tip or Idea: Think of a category such as ‘animals’ or ‘things in a kitchen’ and then see how many words you can name. Each time you think of a word place a Lego piece on top of another and see how tall a tower you can build!
The choice of appropriate materials for language learning can shape the learning experience, promote motivation and facilitate the learning process (Gilmore, 2007). EAL teachers evaluate their options and often wonder about the benefits of coursebooks compared to authentic, real-life texts and media content for their learners. This article suggests that the combination of textbooks and authentic materials is the way forward, not only for EAL teachers in class, but also for multilingual families who seek to support their children with language learning at home.