Question 4

It is important that children learn, at a young age, that by going to school they are building their own human capital. They are investing in themselves to benefit their future. Children should also understand that  our world consists of numerous different languages, and that it would be beneficial to expand their knowledge of these languages. The more languages a child knows, the more they expand their job marketability. If children understand that the world is so culturally diverse, they might be intrigued to look in to other languages. Being multilingual opens the doors as far as career opportunities.

Children can be encouraged to learn multiple languages by being exposed to different cultures and getting to know the world that we live in. Just in California alone there are many different languages. Children should learn about these other languages, and just be exposed to them.

Question 3

I don't believe that instruction should be delivered in two languages. However, I do believe that students should have access to resources that will provide them with instruction in a different language, if needed. It is important for students to learn the language taught in schools, regardless of their first language. The best way for students to learn a new language is to speak it all the time. If teachers inhibit their primary language, they will not be exposed to other languages. If a student does not know the language that is taught in school, they will need to be provided with resources that will enable them to learn the language being taught. I believe that it is important for the children to keep, retain, and use their primary language, but also to be able to apply their L2 once coming into classroom.

Another aspect to take into consideration is if we opened the doors for two languages to be  used when instructing in schools then we would have to consider all of the other languages that should be used when instructing.

Question 1

The purpose of schools is to expand the learners human capital. The schools job is to educate the students. The overall goal for schools is to provide an education to students who can take that education and, in return, benefit their futures. Children need to be exposed to learning in order to grow. A solid education will provide student with the tools, knowledge, and skills that they will need in order to succeed in the real working world.

Question 2

Parents play a critical role in regards to supporting instruction. Students are in the classroom for the majority of the day, but when they go home their minds should not just flip off. Parents need to make sure that they are still enabling the child to learn and develop at home. As a future teacher, I know that students will go home with homework. In my perspective, it would be beneficial if the parent could sit down their children to make sure that the student is understanding the concepts. If the student is not, then he or she can help teach them. Parents are the teachers at home, and they need to make sure that their children are still learning and doing homework. If students are assigned 20 minutes of reading a day, then the parent can support that instruction by having a special time when they can read for 20 minutes. Parents and teachers must work together to help children learn. It is a team effort. When the teachers and parents work together to support the students, the students will definitely benefit.