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Ece 315
Second Language Acquisition and Bilingualism

ECE 315 Language Development in Young Children

Carmen Anderson

March 13, 2011

In America, there is a predominant growth in multiple ethnicities and cultural backgrounds; leading to the usage of multiple languages in the American culture. There is a growing need for many people to learn and utilize multiple languages within the workplace and within one 's own personal life. The importance of bilingualism and the knowledge of multiple languages is ever increasing, and therefore becoming more important for the younger generations. The push for knowing multiple languages and becoming bilingual has many potential negative and positive effects.

Bilingualism is the ability to use two languages when communicating orally or in writing. The usage of multiple languages within the American culture is becoming very common and beneficial. It is difficult because as teacher you always have to find new and interesting methods in order to arouse learner’s interest, but at the same time it is enjoyable since teachers are given the opportunity to work with them. For myself, I enjoy working with bilingual children; I as a caregiver try to learn the students’ first language so that I will be able to communicate with them as much as possible in their native language.

Currently in my classroom I have a German native. His name is Lucas and he is fifteen months old. His mother is German and his father is an American soldier. Both of his parents speak English and German. So at home they communicate with him in both languages. I talk to his mother and father on a daily basis to find out new words in German so that I can talk to him in both languages. I have discovered that some words that I do say in German he really does respond to them better, than if I would tell him to do something in English.

Second language acquisition is the process of learning other languages in addition to the native


References: Otto, B. (2010). Language Development In Early Childhood. (3rd Edition). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson BRAINSKILLS. (2011). How does language acquisition happen? . Retrieved from http://www.brainskills.co.uk/HowDoesLanuageAcquisitionHappen.html Brainy Child. (2011). The Impact of Bilingualism on Overall Language Development and Academic Success . Retrieved from http://www.brainy-child.com/article/bilingual.shtm) Education. (2011). Becoming bilingual: acquiring two languages. Retrieved from http://www.education.com/reference/article/bilingual-acquiring-two-language/ Alice Callaghan.  (2010, July 11). English immersion. Los Angeles Times,p. A.33.  Retrieved March 01, 2011, from Los Angeles Times. (Document ID: 2078277161). MacLeod, A., & Stoel-Gammon, C.. (2010). What is the impact of age of second language acquisition on the production of consonants and vowels among childhood bilinguals? The International Journal of Bilingualism, 14(4), 400-421,511.  Retrieved March 01, 2011, from Research Library. (Document ID: 2266735221). ----------------------- 1 Second Language Acquisition and Bilingualism
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