Language
Language in all its dialects, variations, tones and ways of expression is fascinating. It is our chosen and practiced method of communication and it is incredibly important. The ways in which we are now able to communicate over long distances through technology is more biased and single-minded, and through doing so we have become less diverse as a society.
In the schools of the wealthiest country on Earth, the United States, the focus is mainly on basic grammar, spelling, sentence structure and adding vocabulary of only one out of 6,500 different languages. This process of learning and developing language skills. Learning how to verbally interact with other humans is especially important in today's society with everyone being so interconnected through technology. Teaching and learning more than language is extremely important and beneficial. It can be incorporated daily in such a way that it doesn't quite feel as overwhelming as it does thinking of the whole picture.
What is Language?
Take note of all the techniques Lindsay is using to communicate how and what she wants to say.
Not only through verbal and written expression does she accomplish providing a simple and to the point explanation. The form of expression she is using to communicate her message is visual with a comedic tone.
Body
How our body moves, feels, reacts, functions and ages are all important things to know. At some point in life these things are just acquired through seeking advice from friends or family and self education. What if we didn't have to do this?
What if our education system taught us how our bodies work subconsciously to ensure our survival?? Our body language expresses how we are feeling, what we are saying (if we use hand or whole body gestures), and even some of the stuff that we might not be thinking about. It is important that we take the time to listen to what our bodies are telling us.
Finding the right vocabulary is really helpful in learning to understand boundaries. It is also important to teach boundaries to kids starting at a young age and continue to teach the language surrounding their body as it is changing, including how to express and advocate for yourself, like if you need a doctor or other medical professional.
Expression
One of the most important parts of language is learning how to express yourself, which starts with teaching children how to first acknowledge their feelings and then how to communicate their thoughts after a small amount of reflection. Sounds impossible right? Wrong.
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There is a great article that explains the ways in which language and communication are often used interchangeably. There is a key difference between the two where one is the methods in which we communicate language and the second is what we are communicating. I definitely recommend reading it is on the ISL website, Language vs. Communication: They're not the same thing.
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There are many different ways in which we can express ourselves and it is important to understand how you communicate and express yourself through language changes on the situation and the people you are surrounded by. This happens consciously and unconsciously. This is important in how we learn t more about ourselves on what we are taking in and the ways we express our thoughts, questions, anxieties, pain, fears, concerns, doubts, dreams and desires.
In order to foster connection with other humans we have to learn how to express the things we find hardest to express.
Multilingual
This topic is one that I believe to be most important as my studies focus on multicultural education, which we all know by now that culture includes language. Without language and communication, how do you connect with other people? How do you expect to build relationships if you can't understand that person both linguistically and culturally?
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There are HUGE economic, social, emotional, cultural and professional benefits from communicating in more than one language. I feel as if this is widely talked about and our society is seeing a shift in the ways in which we value the ability to. communicate in more than one language.
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Language acquisition happens at a young age and teaching young kids a second language is easier at 2 than it is at 17.
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It is astonishing how much research has gone into the benefits of multilingualism and yet it still it isn't considered "important enough" to be part of our normal curriculum in school.
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Azul Terronez speaks here on his experience working with ESL Native Spanish speakers. He shares what he finds that continues to work best with his students and other native speakers. Making real world connections is more important than basic standardized content.
This video offers a great summary to the different levels of bilingualism and a sample of some of the benefits that multilingualism in general has on your cognitive functions. It is important to support language acquisition both orally and with written skills for day-to-day learning.
This video provides an insight for some people that may not be as aware of what code-switching is. We are taught to think that this incredible skill is only between two separate languages, generally this skill is highlighted in Native Spanish speakers and standardized English. The truth is that this skill is happening within a single language. In order to learn a language it is not only about the verbal and written practice, but most importantly the culture and history is tied to the language.
Bella Lawson & Jose Sabedra are third graders at Bostonia Language Academy and they explain the benefits of being multilingual. They speak in both Spanish and English and talk about how their travels have benefited them in their social interactions.
I was writing this firstly for the vital importance of language preservation and education, secondly for a high school grade, and thirdly from a perspective that wasn't fully developed and interrupted by extreme mental health struggles. Don't take anything I say in this too seriously!
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"The Importance of 'Foreign' Language Education Starting at a Young Age" and have linked my original final report here.
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This is just some of the information I found back then, and I continue to educate myself and others on this topic.
Internal
Do you ever find yourself at a loss of words to describe something? A smell, thought, hope, dream, or mental or physical feeling. When was the last time you tried to describe exactly what you were thinking carefully so that the other person would understand, yet they still ended up confused?
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The language that we can only speak to ourselves, our internal dialogue goes farther than we ever could imagine. The human subconscious is a topic that is hard for people to wrap their heads around because there are no words to describe it. We don't have the capacity as spirits in human form to be able to describe or understand some of the language that we find so easy to understand when it's just me and me.
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Our inner dialogue is the most important and sacred thing that we have. Our deepest thoughts and desires are either the most protected or the most celebrated, but it all depends on your internal action thoughts associated with them. It's your choice!