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  • Writer's pictureMu Mei Hsueh
    • Dec 11, 2023
    • 5 min read

Linguistically Diverse Learner Profiles- Case study

Photo from Teacher Resources: Supporting Students of Color and Battling Racism. Retrieved December 11, 2023, from Teaching Channel.








The Concerns & Considerations

Based on Laura's background, highlighting her strengths and Areas Needing Improvement.


Strengths:

  • Listening and Oral Communication: Laura excels in understanding and speaking English. Her proficiency in these areas matches or exceeds that of her peers.

  • Family Traditions and Relationships: Laura's family maintains close relationships and participates in cultural traditions. This presents an excellent opportunity to further integrate language learning into their family time and expand her vocabulary.

  • Multicultural Environment: Living in Vietnam exposes Laura to Vietnamese. Her efforts to learn Vietnamese with her friend Bian demonstrate her willingness to engage with the local culture.

Areas for Improvement:

  • Bilingual Proficiency: Laura's proficiency in both English and Chinese is notable. However, due to the school’s English environment and her father's limited Chinese, her Chinese proficiency is not as strong as her English. She prefers answering in English or mixing grammar when conversing with her mother in Chinese.

  • Emotional Regulation: Laura is working on managing her emotions, especially in conflicts with her sister and in leadership roles.

  • Reading & Writing Level: Laura's reading proficiency falls below her class average, indicating challenges in vocabulary development and comprehension. She faces difficulties in spelling, tenses, sentence structures, and generating complex ideas in writing, particularly as the class transitions to essay writing.

  • Cultural Connection: Although Laura has strong ties to both her Taiwanese and French heritage, most interactions occur through video calls with her Taiwanese and French grandparents. There is insufficient connection to her cultural roots.



Questions & The best way to support


1. Questions about "Keeping Language Skills Sharp":

  • How can we help Laura stay fluent in both English and Chinese, considering how she uses these languages at home and school?

  • Setting Clear Language Rules: What methods can we use to make sure Laura knows when to use English and when to use Chinese, making it easier for her to switch between the two languages without blending grammar.


Stratigies for Maintaining Fluency:

  • Language Practice Routine: Encourage regular conversations or activities in both English and Chinese at home. This could involve reading books, watching movies, or having discussions in both languages.

  • Language Games: Introduce language games or apps that promote learning in both languages. This could include word games, storytelling, or even bilingual puzzles to keep her engaged.

  • Example: Laura could have a language "challenge" where she speaks English with her father during breakfast and switches to Chinese with mother during dinner. This routine helps her practice both languages daily in different contexts.


Stratigies for Setting Clear Language Rules:

  • Language Zones: Designate certain spaces or times for each language. For example, Laura's home could have color-coded signs: red for Chinese, blue for English. When she enters a room with a red sign, she knows it's a Chinese-speaking area, helping her switch between languages more easily without mixing grammar.


2. Questions about "Learning Multiple Languages and Blending Interests":

  • How do we get Laura more interested in French, Taiwanese, Vietnmese and Chinese, both at school and with her family?

  • How can we mix language learning with things Laura loves doing, so she learns better overall?


Stratigies for Incorporating Diversity into Lesson Plans

To promote cultural awareness and language learning for Laura, the teacher can connect lessons to real-world issues. For instance:

  • Monthly Culture Day: Connecting languages to Laura's hobbies and encouraging Laura and her family to join a monthly Culture Day based on the learning topic. This might involve wearing cultural clothing, sharing famous stories, or bringing traditional food

  • Celebrating Local Festivals: Celebrating local cultural festivals in the classroom to encouraging language passion and create a culturally inclusive environment and celebrate diverse traditions within Laura's community.


3. Questions about "Enhancing Reading, Writing, and Language Abilities" :

  • What specific ways can we help Laura get better at words, spelling, making sentences, and coming up with ideas when she writes?

Stratigies for Improving Language Skills

  • Word Expansion: Encourage Laura to maintain a vocabulary journal where she writes down new words learned in class or while reading. Introduce word-of-the-day activities to enrich her vocabulary.

  • Spelling Practice: Use fun spelling games or apps that cater to her interests. Create personalized spelling lists with words related to her hobbies or favorite topics.

  • Building Sentences: Laura can practice making sentences in different ways. For instance, she could start sentences with words like "First," "Then," or "Finally" to tell a story. This helps her learn different ways to put sentences together.

  • Thinking of Ideas: Before writing, Laura can draw pictures or make a list of ideas about what she wants to write. This helps her organize her thoughts and gives her more to write about.

  • Example: Let's say Laura enjoys drawing. To improve her language skills, we might encourage her to create a short story about one of her drawings. This exercise involves describing the characters, setting, and actions in the story, expanding her vocabulary and enhancing sentence structure while stimulating her imagination.



Why is understanding learner identities and multiculturalism important?

Respect Received, Respect Given is the Pathway to Harmony!

When people feel respected and valued, they're more likely to reciprocate the same, creating an ideal environment for learning and interaction.


Consider the experience of Vietnamese immigrants in Taiwan, particularly those introduced through marriage agencies. Many face challenges integrating into Taiwanese society and preserving their cultural heritage. One Vietnamese friend shared to me, 'No one encouraged me to speak Vietnamese among my hometown friends. I worried about my child keeping up, so I focused on Chinese, missing the chance for them to learn our mother tongue during their crucial early years.' Fortunately, the Taiwanese government addressed this by including cultural lessons and Vietnamese language lessons in school curriculums.


As we all know, respect and trust are essential for bridging cultural gaps. Building rapport and appreciation between educators and students fosters a space for comfortable expression. When students feel acknowledged and respected, they engage positively, fostering a culturally inclusive classroom.

Embracing multiculturalism helps us avoid prejudice, approach students with fairness and understanding, and create a safe environment. When children feel secure and understood, they build positive relationships and embrace learning. Diverse backgrounds bring varied perspectives, enhancing teamwork for better outcomes.


Understanding learner identities and multiculturalism allows teachers to customize teaching methods, nurturing an inclusive and supportive learning environment for everyone's success.



How can understanding language learner identities promote multiculturalism and enhanced learning outcomes for the student? 


Understanding language learner identities is super important because it:

  1. Cultural Respect and Inclusivity: It helps create a more inclusive environment where different languages and cultures are respected and valued. When students feel their language and cultural backgrounds are acknowledged, they feel more included and appreciated.

  2. Effective teaching Strategies: It allows teachers to tailor teaching methods to suit diverse linguistic needs. Differentiated instruction can accommodate various language proficiency levels and learning styles.

  3. Increased Engagement and Participation: Students are more engage in learning when their linguistic and cultural identities are acknowledged. Feeling connected to the material and being able to relate it to their own experiences encourages participation and enthusiasm for learning.

  4. Preparing for Global Citizenship (Cross-Cultural Communication): By understanding diverse language learners' identities, students are better equipped for effective cross-cultural communication. This skill is increasingly valuable in our globalized world, fostering empathy and understanding among different backgrounds.

  5. Builds Confidence: It can boost students' confidence in their linguistic abilities,cultural backgrounds and be proud of their heritage.

  6. Enhancing Learning Outcomes: When teachers understand language learner identities, they can create a more supportive and conducive learning environment. As a return, it leads to improved learning outcomes as students feel more comfortable, motivated, and empowered to succeed academically.


Overall, accepting and knowing about students' language backgrounds helps us appreciate different cultures in class. This makes everyone feel like they belong and are respected. It also helps teachers teach in ways that fit everyone's languages and cultures, making learning better for everyone.



References


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