Bilingual Children
Mr. Cummings in his article attempts to put forth the premise that a child's native language and culture are strongly connected. If the native language is not encouraged by the in class teacher the Childs ability to flourish and become successful in current language situation is less likely to succeed. Dependent upon his maintenance of native language in turn aids in the retention of his native culture. This maintenance of native language aids in the Childs retention of a positive self image and self worth leading to successfully meeting the challenges of learning and succeeding in his current culture. He poses several approaches for the in class teacher to nourish the Childs retention of his native language and thus his culture. Having a sound recognition of these factors enables the child to succeed in his current non-native culture. Mr. Cummins makes huge leaps in his premise that a child is punished for use of native language and his culture, and must relinquish allegiance to both. I disagree with this premise and comment since I have personally observed children being encouraged to speak the current common language but never have seen them denigrated for their culture.Mr. Cummings constantly attempts to link the re
Should the educational system which to maintain a program to foster the continuance of native language, it can be accomplished in after school or free period programs but once again if there is a diversity of different mother tongues little can be effectively accomplished with in financial and practical constraints. The thought of punishment for a child to attempt to retain their native language and culture is ridicules. This very well may be true but it speaks to the child's mental abilities for not having to deal with delayed language development in any language rather than the idea that the mother tongue language is the factor. Cummings again attaches the rejection of language to the rejection of culture and I am not convinced that the two are that closely tied. With in my own family many cultural facets remain in place and are nurtured and accepted by my children, yet they do not speak their native tongue in school and practice at home. Cummings attempts to foster between native language and culture are in my opinion difficult at best and unfounded at worst. He does not state that the second language or the first is native language. Heterogeneous communities with mixed culture and mutual respect for such tend to flourish. However to encourage the child to learn the language of the area they are to grow and succeed in, the language of the community, business world and the language of the institutions of higher learning is not ridicules. Initially they gravitate to areas of familiar language and culture of there home country. The utilization the community in after school programs to aid in language preservation would be one approach if retention of mother tongue is a priority in the school system. Again I disagree, since for many years in the US immigrants from any number of cultures and language different areas have immigrated to the US.
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