Blog # 6

This blog is broken up into two different sections: the videos and the article. 

The videos: The first video (episode 1) explain how years ago students were not allowed to speak any other language but for English in the class, and how sometimes students would Aldo often get punished of they speaking their own language. In the second video (episode 2), one of the teachers say that sometimes it can be intimating if they are not bilingual. The teacher also mentions that having different languages is only going to help the students and to let them go further. We should continue to encourage it. The two teachers say that teachers should learn to become co-learners along side their students. And in the last video (episode 5), In the bilingual classroom, they alternate days, one day they learn in English and the next day they learn in Spanish. The children incorporate English and Spanish into their poems. The teacher also adds that it could be a good idea to talk to parents and students about language goals. 

Now, for the article I have chosen to reflected it on my own personal life, specifically my own personal experience at the providence elementary school that I am student teacher at. 

In the reading "Tongue Tied" written by Richard Rodriguez the importance of a bilingual education is discussed. One of the first things that is being said is that if kids were taught Spanish at a young age, and we're taught in a bilingual classroom, it could more beneficial not only for the kids learning Spanish, but also for the kids who already know Spanish. Sometimes, it can be scary for Spanish speaking students to enter a classroom that is only English speaking. Some of Richards teachers showed up to his house on day and asked his parents to to start speaking English in the house and give up the Spanish language. In an intent, Richards family agreed, they wanted the best for their child and thought this was what they had to do. Every night the family would gather after dinner to work on their English words, Richard would also see a daily tutor to help with his English. One afternoon, Richard walked into the kitchen and heard his family speaking Spanish, he quickly become distraught when he realized he couldn't understand anything his parents were saying, he didn't feel like himself anymore. Richard felt like he lost his identity. 

Connecting this to the elementary school I am currently student teaching at, there are a few children who primarily speak Spanish. Although it can sometimes be difficult to fully understand what they are saying, I can somewhat makeup what they are trying to say. Spanish is apart of these children identity's and should certainly never be taken away from them. I think it would be so unacceptable to go directly to the parents and ask them to stop speaking Spanish, I feel like that is taking they're whole identity background. 

https://online.tamiu.edu/articles/education/why-bilingual-education-is-important.aspx 

This is a link of why bilingual education is important.