Patrick Cox

Patrick Cox

Patrick Cox runs The World's language desk. He reports and edits stories about the globalization of English, the bilingual brain, translation technology and more. He also hosts The World's podcast on language, The World in Words.

Learning in two languages, and new Zulu words

September 14, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment
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A back-to-school edition about learning in a second language. We spend some time in the classroom with fourth grade teacher Stephanie Blanco of Gauldin Elementary School in Downey, CA to explore the challenges of teaching English language learners. ELL came to the fore after 1998, when California voters approved Proposition 227, which ended bilingual education. In ELL classrooms, everyone — whether they or not they are proficient in English — learns in English.

Gauldin has a good record of improving ELL students’ English skills, in marked contrast to many of the schools in neighboring Los Angeles. The situation there is so dire that the the U.S. Department of Education has launched a investigation to determine if if the Los Angeles Unified School District is violating the civil rights of English Language Learners. The feds are also taking a look at Boston schools. (A few months ago, Carol Hills and I discussed Arizona’s decision to penalize ELL teachers whose accents are deemed too foreign. Arizona is still defending its policy, which itself has come under federal scrutiny.)

Also in the podcast, a Creole-speaking Haitian girl newly arrived in New York City enrols in a high school, with help from a community group in Brooklyn. The girl fled Haiti after the earthquake there earlier this year. Like most Haitians, she wants to master the language and stay here permanently. But she only has a U.S. visitor visa. Then it’s back to California as an Arabic immersion program gets underway at FAME a public charter school in Fremont, CA.

Reporter Hana Baba provided us with this nice slideshow of scenes from the school, including the photo (left) of school founder Maram Alaiwat. Not surprisingly, many of the students at this K-10th grade school are of Arab and/or Muslim descent. More surprising is that the school has opened its doors to the FBI. The bureau offers FAME 5th graders the chance to become “junior special agents” .

Finally, the first Zulu-English dictionary in 40 years has just been published in South Africa. Some English speakers already know a few words of Zulu (also known as isiZulu) — words like ubuntu. Zulu has also borrowed from other South African languages such as Afrikaans, and many Zulu words offer their own linguistic takes on apartheid and AIDS. We talk with the publishing manager of Oxford University Press South Africa. Download MP3

Discussion

7 comments for “Learning in two languages, and new Zulu words”

  • Elle Simon

    From this reading, I can conclude that teaching English-speaking, former English-speakers, and 2nd language English speakers can be difficult to teach all at once at the school of Gauldin Elementary in California. I agree with the teacher that spoke in this track talking about how another language besides English should just be taught at home, and English should be taught at school only. Also, poverty can come in to this play. Teachers are trying to find ways to teach second language learners the best way they can. For example, I fall into the 2nd language catergory. I learned Turkish and Armenian at the same time before I went to Elementary school. I struggled, but picked up English as best I can with the “ESL” programs that helped me learn English better.

  • Michele Chounlamountry

    This particular podcast was interesting. I can only imagine how difficult it may be for English learning students to be in a classroom full of native English speakers. I also agree with the teacher who is speaking in the podcast that English should only be taught in the classroom.

  • dougvalverde

    Umm, what exactly was the name of Gaudin Elem’s successful program??

  • Hamdi Geele

    I am a student at Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC)and I am enrolled in an Intercultural Communication class.

    My thoughts on this article are learning how to write/read and speak in English are challenges that people with English as their second language face when they come here in America.

    Also I agree with the statement made by Stephanie Blanco of Gaudin Elementary School in Downey CA, when she said that a person can communicate perfectly in English, but the real deal comes out when they begin to write.

    Education is one of the major reasons why immigrants come to America. I believe education is the key to success in life and that’s why people migrate here to obtain better lives than they did in their home country.

    Lastly, I thought the first Zulu-English dictionary in 40 years is pretty fascinating.

  • Uyen Phung

    I am a student from Northern Virginia Community College and I am taking a Intercultural Communications class there. I found this podcast pretty interesting and quite different. It’s interesting to see English learners attending school with a bunch of English native speakers. I can relate because my first language was Vietnamese and I used to be in the ESL program back in my elementary school and I was intimidated to be a room full of English native speakers. But eventually, I was able to learn English in no time. In fact, I probably know more English than I do Vietnamese now. I too, agree that English should be taught at school and a different language should be taught at home.

  • Vickers Bryan

    I am a student at Northern Virginia Community College enrolled in an Intercultural Communications Class. In listening to this podcast I learned more about the English Language Learners in this country. I applaud educators in their flexibility to adapt to new programs. and I share the concern that these children may lose their first language capabilities. I hope that the families will continue to emphasize the importance of their heritage through keeping the first language a part of their lives. The Haitian student story is inspiring and I truly wish them all luck in the pursuit of their studies and life in the US. The Arabic/Project immersion program is terrific too. This is a classic example of how a local community can rally and get things done! It broadens communication opportunities within the community and they are also meeting a need for our country. Yeah for the new Zulu dictionary – what a good news story – keep Zulu alive!!

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