LLSS 556: First and Second Language Development

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April 3, 2008 (class #11)

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Topic: Comparing and Contrasting First and Second Language Development
Class Outline:
 

	Announcements: Interview with a second language learner due tonight. Please don't forget to turn it in at the end of class. Do not turn it in right now. Next week there are reading questions due for Marinova-Todd, Marshall, and Snow. (Note: this will be a VERY useful reading for your final essay.)
	Interactive presentation: Comparing first and second language development
	Report out from groups
	Quick write: "In what ways are people who learn a second language early in life different from those who learn one much later in life? How might their life, social, and educational experiences differ?"
	Small group activity:  In small groups, share a brief synopsis of your respondents' language history. Come up with a graphic representation of the similarities and differences between your informants.
	Minute paper

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Overheads:
PowerPoint

Handouts:
none tonight

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Readings

Note: All of the readings, required and recommended, can be found on the electronic reserves at Zimmerman library. Please contact the instructor for the course password.


Authors: Valdés & Figueroa

1)	How do these authors define bilingualism?
2)	What do you understand about the discussion of fluctuating language profiles on page 9?
3)	Define elective and circumstantial bilingualism in your own words.
4)	Valdés and Figueroa state that "the fundamental difference between elective and circumstantial bilinguals has to do, then, not just with conditions in which languages are acquired, but also withe the relationships between groups of individuals" (p. 13). What do you understand this to mean?
5)	To what extent is Albuquerque a diglossic community? Justify your answer.
6)	Now that you've read this chapter: what are some new terms for you from this chapter? what seem to be some important concepts in this reading? what new questions do you have?

Authors: Grosjean

1)	What is the fractional view of bilingualism? What does it assume and what does it privilege?
2)	What analogy does Grosjean use to describe a bilingual from the perspective of the wholistic view of bilingualism? Does this analogy work for you? If not, suggest a better (for you) analogy.
3)	How do the fractional and wholistic views differ? Of the researchers and theorists you have read so far in class who might take a fractional view, and who might take the wholistic view?
4)	Now that you've read this article: what are some new terms for you from this chapter? what seem to be some important concepts in this reading? what new questions do you have?


 

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Extra Resources
Website Links:

• Try the web site of the Lingusitics Society of American: http://www.lsadc.org/ Type in "bilingualism" in the search box at the bottom of the page. Two articles which might be over interest are: (1) Multilingualism by Guadalupe Valdés, and (2) a pamphlet on raising bilingual children (http://www.lsadc.org/pdf_files/Bilingual_Child.pdf)

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