Comments on: Xenophobic Attitudes Can Prevent Kids From Becoming Bilingual

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By: Mandarin Rose

Mandarin Rose — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 15:41:32 +0000

Unfortunately, the real issue with the funding of these programs by Hanban isn’t the political one (or Xenophobia), but that the quality of these teachers from China is horrendous.

By: Monday Morning Open Thread | Mothertalkers

Monday Morning Open Thread | Mothertalkers — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 12:01:00 +0000

[...] and arithmetic were much more important than learning a second language. As this blog post in SpanglishBaby — and proceeding comments — pointed out, there are many academic and cognitive benefits [...]

By: Karen

Karen — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 03:59:23 +0000

I understand what you’re saying, but math and science have positive cognitive effects too, which will help these kids in the future more than Mandarin. Too bad the Chinese won’t send over math and science teachers.

By: Ana

Ana — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 15:06:05 +0000

What a great opportunity for these children!
After reading all those comments make me realize that there is a huge misconception about what immersion education really is. With so many people believing that learning a second language is point less and even more with so many thinking “speak English or leave”, I think it is a must to talk about all the educational benefits of learning a second language before discussing immersion education.
Also, it is necessary to explain that children in language immersion schools are also being taught the same curricula as their English-only counterparts and they will graduate knowing the same subjects plus a second language.

By: Ali

Ali — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 13:45:26 +0000

There is a lot of research about the cognitive benefits of bilingualism. It can actually lead to the brain developing in a different way which has a positive effect on the bilingual´s academic life. It is dangerous to assume that dual language education is only for students who will go to college because we can not really know what a child´s future will be when they are in elementary school. As a teacher, I would NEVER assume one of my students will not go to college and I teach all students in that way.

I also recently read an article (dont know if it was on Spanglish baby or not) about how there really is not a lot of additional funding needed to implement a bilingual program. So its not like funding is going to that instead of other subjects. It would be interesting to learn more about that.

By: Xochitl Oseguera

Xochitl Oseguera — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 03:54:59 +0000

Good article Elise, I wish I could have the option of teaching my son Mandarin, it is not only for business use, it is an amazing opportunity for their brains to develop a “think out of the box” attitude and learn another culture.

By: Karen

Karen — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 00:33:53 +0000

Actually the article says that most of the concerns are practical, not political. The school is underfunded and the region has a high dropout rate. If the school is not investing in other subjects like science, math and English, then those children will not have an opportunity to use Mandarin as adults. Most of the people who use Mandarin are college educated adults working in investment banking, international law and academia. In addition, the business class in China speaks English, so it’s not even totally necessary to know Mandarin to do business there. The principal in the article talks as though Mandarin is a panacea, the answer to his district’s problems. I think it’s great that children are learning a second language, but they still have to master English, science, math, etc.

By: Ali

Ali — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 21:17:40 +0000

Yes – I heard the same story and had the same reaction to the “communist regime” comment. I really am not surprised though. I grew up in South Carolina and my brother lives in Georgia. I dont really want to make it a political thing, but I think there is a different attitude towards “foreign” things and other languages.

I think the only thing you can do to combat these feelings is spread the word to people you know. I feel like my having bilingual wedding invitations, a bilingual mass (in South Carolina), really diverse music at my wedding reception, and my husband doing the toast in both Spanish and English was number one to represent who we are, make sure his family felt included and comfortable, but also to have the secondary effect of giving people the experience with another language. Hopefully this makes it a little closer to them and seem less weird and foreign. I hope I will continue to do that all my life.

It was really cool to see the video posted yesterday about the English speaking family who had their kids in a dual immersion program. They are the ones that can really do a lot. They are putting their kids in this program for primarily academic reasons (although Im sure they appreciate the cultural ones as well.) They are the ones we have to remember when faced with attitudes like the one in the article.