Language Educators Assemble

📚📖💬 𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗨𝗔𝗚𝗘 𝗔𝗖𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡. We have always heard of this body of research, but some of us might have encountered or know little about the key insights generated from within. That’s what this article is all about: tailored for beginners with a keen curiosity to open the doors to the world of research on 𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗨𝗔𝗚𝗘 𝗔𝗖𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡, from the basics of first language acquisition to the intricacies of second and third language learning! 🧠🗣️📖 Ever wondered when language development start? To what extent is L2 instruction effective? Do bilingual children get confused over languages during childhood? Find out about basic insights to all these questions, and more! #education #language #languageteaching #languagelearning #languageeducation #languageacquisition #languagedevelopment #languageeducators #languageteachers #linguistics #appliedlinguistics #bilingualism #multilingualism #firstlanguageacquisition #FLA #L1acquisition #secondlanguageacquisition #SLA #L2acquisition #thirdlanguageacquisition #TLA #L3acquisition #childlanguageacquisition #bilingualacquisition #BLA

You might have noticed that LEA has not posted for a while. It’s not deliberate – there was still progress in content creation, but many things have since happened. In a nutshell, I’m on a significant journey of transition in my professional role from that of a curriculum specialist and instructional designer to a PhD candidate. It’s been quite a journey, in working out various possible proposals and looking for suitable supervisors. I am pleased to announce that I will be pursuing my PhD adventures at the University of Reading in the UK. This is my personal quest to immerse myself in research in linguistics and language education more deeply, with the ultimate goal of developing theoretically grounded and evidence-based approaches that can be applied effectively to various domains of practice, including policymaking, curriculum planning, instructional design, teaching, and parenting. My relocation from Singapore to Reading will involve substantial preparations and a settling-in period, further complicated by the needs of my family, which includes children of various ages. This transition, although challenging, will also provide a unique learning experience which I hope to spend more time reflecting on with my family. In light of this, LEA will experience an extended period of reduced productivity (since it is by far a one-man show), with new content creation and updates being sporadic at best. Once I have settled in Reading, I am committed to resuming regular updates as before. As I settle into my new surroundings in Reading, UK, I am also eager to engage with like-minded individuals who share my passion for language, linguistics, and education. While online interactions have been a valuable means of connecting with readers and followers, there’s no substitute for in-person conversations and the exchange of ideas that can occur in a face-to-face setting. If you ever find yourself in London or Reading, I would be delighted to meet with you and discuss topics of mutual interest. Whether it’s exploring the intricacies of language acquisition, debating the role of technology in education, or simply sharing experiences and insights, I am confident that our conversations will be enriching and thought-provoking. For those who may not be able to meet in person, I’ll continue to engage with you through email and social media. Your feedback and engagement are invaluable to me, and I look forward to continuing our online conversations. As I embark on this new chapter in Reading, I’m truly excited of the opportunities ahead to gather more wisdom, so that I can be a more powerful enabler of language, linguistics, and education. May LEA continue to be your source of inspiration – and let’s look forward to the new LEA a few months ahead!

💣Have you encountered the latest bomb dropped in publishing? Taylor & Francis, a leading global publisher, has recently decided to sell access to research articles written by academic authors to Microsoft’s AI expansion. This outrageous move (perhaps characterised as audacious for some) raises disturbing questions about how we should prepare for what could be a new age of “legalised plagiarism”. The implications of this decision are significant: it may change the dynamics of how we perceive and use academic research in the future. As these AI systems become well-trained with vast amounts of data from academic papers, there'll be a high likelihood of public using parts or ideas from these papers without explicit citation or acknowledgment. This could undermine the hard work, dedication, and scholarship of the original authors and researchers. Yet, this is a complex issue. On one hand, it seems like a clear violation of intellectual property rights. But on the other hand, AI-powered technology like this can lead to wider accessible sharing of academic wisdom. So, where do we stand? And how should we, as a community that has benefited immensely from academic research, prepare for this potentially revolutionary shift in the way we view plagiarism? How do we re-evaluate our definitions, rules, and regulations pertaining to intellectual property in the age of AI? I know this topic has been floating around for many creatives. Now it's landed right at our doorstep. I’m curious to hear your thoughts on this matter. Have you faced similar situations where your work was used or replicated without proper recognition? How did you deal with it? And where do you see this new era of AI-plagiarism heading in the future?

Have our learners ever felt stuck in trying to navigate a new language? In learning anything new, especially when we already have an existing operating system, we tend to stick to the habits within that framework. Unlearning, is an essential process to cultivate new linguistic habits. What are your strategies in supporting your learners in the emergent stage? Share with us!

Is it more advantageous for bilingual children to use their languages separately or fluidly in a mix? Following my post on family language policy, I found this study an ideal spotlight for many parents in bilingual families. It provides insights to the concerns of parents - which scholars should aim to address in future research.

Often, in our quest for methods and strategies, we may overlook the most crucial aspect for a child - the relationship itself. It's essential to remind ourselves that the role of a caring companion growing alongside the child can be most critical - in language learning too!

🧰𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐨𝐨𝐥📖 Positioned as a Modern Language Learning Companion, 𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐄 is indeed a great tool that leverages AI to enhance the learning process. It offers a blend of interactive features to maintain student engagement. Some features worth noting: - A chat-based system powered by a personalised neural network, enabling users to practise languages through immersive conversations - Tailors the learning materials to the user’s knowledge and interests, thus ensuring that the new words and phrases presented are relevant and challenging, promoting steady language progress - Simulates a real teacher in the AI bot, providing clear explanations at each step to make new knowledge easily accessible - Offers motivational features to keep learners committed - Provides daily articles to add variety to the learning resources And so, if you are looking to help your learners access a tool for independent learning, 𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐄 is a tool that you might want to explore (though it may be more suitable for older learners). NOTE: LEA is not affiliated to 𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐄.

In this Edweek article, a recent national poll found that a majority of parents prefer bilingual education programs for their children over English-only programs. The poll, conducted by Morning Consult for the Century Foundation, surveyed 579 parents. The results add to the growing research on the demand for bilingual education at a time when all 50 states in the US now support students gaining a special notation on high school diplomas known as the “seal of biliteracy”. The poll data also found a discrepancy of preference when it came to families’ income, with families making more than $100,000 a year most likely to prefer bilingual education for their children. In addition, more Black non-Hispanic parents than white parents expressed a preference for bilingual education. Overall, the article is encouraging in the sense that it affirms the efforts made by scholars over the decades on the benefits of bilingualism. Notwithstanding so, it continues to alarm us that consensus is not uniform, and that families of certain profiles may still prioritise integration and learning the dominant societal language. For language educators like us, we need to continue find means and ways to support such families, so that all our learners can continue to be empowered with more languages in their repertoire, and not been forced to make choices between languages in a tussle of power.

📢 Are you a parent of a bilingual or multilingual family, wondering about thet state of language use in your household? Have you ever thought of what approaches other families are adopting? Achieving linguistic harmony in multilingual families begins with a well-planned 𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐘 𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐔𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐘 that balances cultural identity and communication. In this article, I share some valuable insights on the importance of implementing a well-thought 𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐘 𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐔𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐘 and how it can lead to success in raising multilingual children 👨👩👧👦, or at least achieving your aspirations for your children. Learn what a policy is, why it matters, and different major types as informed by experts from this field. For language teachers, you will also find this article useful in building your knowledge to guide parents on this journey. Let’s also start a conversation! What are your experiences with raising bilingual/multilingual children, and what challenges have you faced in implementing a 𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐘 𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐔𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐘? For language teachers, what more do you want to know about in this area? Share with us in the comments! 💬 #education #language #languageteaching #languagelearning #languageeducation #languageacquisition #languagedevelopment #languageeducators #languageteachers #linguistics #appliedlinguistics #bilingualism #multilingualism #languagepolicy #familylanguagepolicy #languagemaintenance #parentsaslanguageteacher #bilingualfamilies #multilingualchildren

🚨 Have you ever wondered about the role of families in maintaining a child’s heritage language? With more families on the move in this age, it becomes increasingly important for language educators and parents to address the issue of intergenerational language transmission, as it impacts the linguistic and cultural identity of the child. How do you support parents in this endeavour? Share with us your thoughts below!