WELCOME TO MY FIRST ENTRY
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Entry 2: Interview with a Second Language Learner
Welcome back. For this entry, I decided to interview one of the professor at UH in the area of Bilingualism. Dr. Velázquez has taught Englis...
It is truly amazing how adventurous your life sounded based on your video. I found it fascinating that you were exposed to two additional languages (French and English) during your middle and high school years, especially when according to our textbook, “in some parts of our world, most children grow up speaking one language only” (Ortega 20). Furthermore, what is also astounding is how intense the courses sounded like in your video. Preserving through long hours of learning multiple languages courses must have been exhausting, as one can imagine trying to learn two additional languages must have been extremely challenging. I assume much of your success seems to come from motivation. As stated in the beginning of your video, you found a passion in education at such a young age. This passion must have been the fuel of your motivation that propelled to acquire a second and third language, as according to Stephen Krashen, “Students who are more motivated, do better in language acquisition.” When taken the two factors into account, it seemed that nothing could have stopped you from doing what you love doing now!
ReplyDeleteMotivation is a key factor in language learning. I wanted to prepare myself the best I could since I knew that I had nobody to support me financially and I had to survive on my own and getting a good education was key. I took advantage of every opportunity to become the best user of English I could and I am glad I did because I have had a wonderful life thanks to English.
DeleteYour life, Dr. Avellaneda, seems to be filled with so much excitement and wonder. It is always interesting to see how pieces fit together in a person’s story, and your pieces include so much knowledge of the world. There was one aspect of your life you mentioned that I see covered in our text. You said that when you were learning English during your middle and high school years, you were mostly taught grammar and vocabulary, with little emphasis on speaking. It seems that structure of learning today is a controversial topic. According to Ortega (2013), educators “hotly debate whether students in their classrooms need to be directly taught grammar and vocabulary in order to get the basic building blocks of a language first” (p. 8). And though different teachers may agree or disagree with this construction of second language acquisition, it appears to be the typical method of learning. When I was learning Spanish in high school, we also were mainly taught grammar and vocabulary as beginners also. I feel that perhaps learning any language around the world, you will more than likely see these kinds of beginning similarities.
ReplyDeleteChomsky had a great influence in the way languages are taught in the world. Most teachers continue to believe that grammar and vocabulary are the key component to learn a language. However, I do not agree with this approach and I prefer to teach lessons that are built around the use of language in a context.
DeleteWhat a fascinating life so far! I fear my exposure to other languages is limited to a few Spanish classes throughout high school. I lacked the motivation Krashen maintains is necessary to really grasp any complexities of the language but do retain a few skills. Lately I have been practicing them more as I enter student teaching this year as well as a diverse workplace in retail. As per my experience, I always thought of those instructed learners that Ortega mentioned as inferior in some way to the Naturalistic learners and your video really did make me question my almost subconscious bias. I wish I could have had the almost mixed experience that you had as to give meaning behind my studies. Where your lessons when you came to the States more of Krashen values and less grammar and vocabulary? I always was thankful for the monotonous vocabulary recall that was in my classes as I felt it was the only thing I truly grasped. Do you believe your early years where invaluable or do you maintain there was a more effective way with learning that had meaning? I am very curious about many things. Thank you for your answers and experiences.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your comment.I am a little confused due to lack of precision in language. When you ask “Where your lessons when you came to the States more of Krashen values and less grammar and vocabulary?” I really do not understand your questions. I wonder if you are asking me if I taught my classes under a more naturalistic approach. If that is your question, the answer is yes. I believe that interaction is key to learn a language. I always prepare my lesson with a communicative objective and most of the activities in class are based on interaction.
DeleteAbout your second question, I think my early years of instruction were a waste of time and opportunity. I do not remember that the language I had to memorize was useful when I began using the language for communication.
Sorry for the confusion. I was just asking if when you came to the states and continued learning English was it more of content based rather than vocabulary and grammar centered. Very interesting!
DeleteDr. Avellaneda, your life so far is a great reminder of how big the world is and the opportunities out there. It is inspiring how you pursued your dreams and were able to travel to different places and meet different people yet seemed like you never forgot your Columbian roots. You mentioned in your video that you first learned English in middle school and high school by being taught mostly vocabulary and grammar but not speaking. Later in life when you were exposed to an environment in which English was spoken and used fluently, you decided it was essential that you further your studies and improve your spoken English. According to Ortez (2008), students who “learn addition languages through formal study in school” are called instructed learners and those who “learn the L2 through informal opportunities” are called naturalistic learners (p. 6). From what I observed from your video, it was implicated that you were able to acquire English as an additional language as an instructed learner from your formal education, however, were able to further build upon your prior knowledge after moving to the United States and thus increasing access to more informal opportunities to learn English. This part from your video as well as that section from “Understanding Second Language Acquisition” reminded me of my senior year of high school in which I was enrolled in a Spanish 4 course. Although my Spanish teacher gave my classmates and me as many opportunities she could for us to apply the Spanish we learned through vocabulary and grammar through mock conversation and discussion, I believe that she said that you do not truly become fluent in a language until you are placed in an environment in which are you forced to use such language to communicate with others your ideas, thoughts, etc. While I do not know the validity of this statement, or whether or not these are her exact words, I can see how that matches with what Stephen Krashen has said about language acquisition and how the only way to learn language is through “comprehensible input in a low anxiety environment”. Outside of the classroom, there are no pressures of grades, quizzes, or assignments to assess your knowledge yet more use of comprehensible input.
ReplyDeleteYou clearly stated my process and my definition as a language learner. Creating as many opportunities for students to use the language in the classroom is probably the best way to give a second or foreign language. One of the main challenging we face as instructors of language is to come up with activities that motivate students to use the language in a natural way similar to what happens in the real world.
DeleteDr. Avellaneda, your story is fascinating and inspiring to watch in the video. A significant factor was when you mentioned learning English and French starting in middle and high school. According to our text Ortega, phenomena are learned by five or six years of age, but you managed to practice and comprehend both languages courteously. From what I observed from the video, its clarity how well you can speak English as if it has always been your home language. Many of schools today are starting duel language programs starting from when the child is enrolled in prekindergarten. My son has been given the opportunity to take part in the program and has been able to balance learning two languages well, English and Spanish, even though English is his home language. I am excited and motivated to be a part of this program one day, so we can have many more scholars with similar stories like your own.
ReplyDeleteI am extremely inspired and in awe with your life so far, Dr. Avellaneda! You have encountered several obstacles and experiences in improving your English. From learning English and French as an adolescent and young adult to expanding your knowledge in English through schooling and teaching, your journey in mastering English is truly fascinating and motivating! I understand that learning a new language with just a focus on vocabulary and grammar can be ineffective and bland since you are mostly memorizing what you are taught. In this case, Stephen Krashen emphasized the importance of comprehensible input and through this, you were able to learn and improve your language skills in a more sufficient manner due to exposure to the language in perhaps a more personal, visual, and auditory matter. In addition, your English improved through traveling and interacting with people from different countries, including native English speakers when you moved to America. The education you received to enhance your understanding in languages helped as well. According to Ortega (2013), these forms of communication and instruction helped you "learn additional languages from a mixture of both naturalistic and instructional experiences" ("Main Concept and Terms" section, para. 4). The fact that you are so motivated to better your understanding with languages and to learn and share experiences with others inspires me to do the same since I am currently learning French! I am excited to learn more from you as well as this course! Thank you for sharing your video!
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ReplyDeleteDr. Avellaneda, I am amazed by your journey! It is wonderful to see people work hard in life and accomplish amazing things. I am astonished by your dedication to learn English and French and pursue it in a professional setting. When first attending a university, you stated that you were unable to greet professors properly. I believe that could be because of how language was taught in your middle school and high school, barely making an emphasis on speaking and focusing more on vocabulary and grammar. According to Ortega (2013), language teachers “debate whether students in their classrooms need to be directly taught grammar and vocabulary in order to get the basic building blocks of a language first or whether it is better to somehow approximate in their classroom the richness of natural language meaning-making processes” (p. 7-8). I believe there are better ways to engage students in learning a language without focusing on grammar and vocabulary the entire time. I also believe motivation is important to create within students. Watching your video made me think of how motivated your students must have been when you shared how you have taught and lived in different parts of the world. It shows how passionate you are about teaching a second language, and also continue to grow as a learner. In Stephen Krashen’s video he shared of the importance to have motivation in your classroom, I believe that your passion can bring that out in many students. Your journey and life story makes your teaching valuable and impactful. I am excited to see what this semester has in store for our class!
ReplyDeleteHi Dr. Avellaneda! Your life story was truly inspiring. It is very admirable to see how much you have accomplished on your journey of learning English as a second language. According to Ortega (2013), most people learn their second language from a mixture of natural and instructed experiences and I feel that may have been your case as well. You took many English courses to learn the language and then went to America where you were able to practice speaking the language with others around you and also taught others to speak English. I believe the key to learning an additional language is practicing speaking it with others. I grew up in a bilingual household where English was the dominant language spoken but Arabic was spoken just as much. It becomes more naturalistic to learn when that is what I'm surrounded with. Your English sounds great! I wonder if you picked up on the French language as well? Are you just as fluent in French as you are in English? As Ortega mentions in chapter 1, we tend to pick up additional languages as adults than children because we can't remember what we learned that young. I find that true with my own experiences as well. Your life seems so wonderful and adventurous and I am looking forward to your class this semester!!
ReplyDeleteDr. Avellaneda, it is very apparent that you have a passion for teaching and learning and I admire that! Ortega states that “most children grow up speaking the same language,” which leads me to believe that it is naturally more difficult for them to learn a second language (Ortega, 2013). Due to children speaking the same language when they are raised, it is harder for them to have the skills to learn a new one, especially when they are not exposed to the other language during their youth. Your video showed that you have perseverance as an educator by continuing to learn and grow through traveling. Teaching another language to a child can be difficult. Your experience with traveling to places where you can submerse yourself in the culture and environment gives you more insight on how to better reach children’s needs when learning a new language. Your video inspired me and I’m excited for this course!
ReplyDeleteYour life and experiences serve as a reminder that language is something that truly connects us to the world around us. I am amazed by the growth and wonderful journey you have accomplished throughout your life in both Colombia and the United States. When you spoke about your studies at the National University of Colombia and the realization that you weren’t able to properly communicate with English speakers it reminded me a lot of naturalistic and instructed learners. According to Ortega, “most people, therefore, learn additional languages through from a mixture of both naturalistic and instructed experiences.” (Pg.6) You became devoted to your studies and were able to continue to grow your English-speaking skills through both formal study and by coming across the people around you that were English speakers. I found it fascinating how in Colombia you studied and went on to teach English to those wanting to learn the language. However, upon coming to the united states you began teaching Spanish and being able to share more of your background. I think your life presents a great example of determination and showcases the importance of pushing forward and never giving up on one’s dream.
ReplyDeleteDr. Avellaneda, your educational journey is truly inspiring and a reminder that language can take us far in this diverse world. Your dedication to continue learning different languages and help others is what makes your class special. Your story is a great motivational tool for your students to do well. According to Stephen Krashen’s video, the best way of practicing language is in a low-pressure environment. Your experiences show a good example of how practice in a natural environment helps grow language. As you stated in your video, although you studied English at a university in Colombia, you were still not able to communicate fluently to your teachers when you arrived in the states. According to Ortega, most people learn additional languages through instructional and naturalistic experiences (Ortega, 2009, p. 6). I believe that both your institutional and real-world practice assisted you in learning a second language fluently. With so many people learning a second language, I believe that this course contains valuable information that could help me learn how to make children comfortable in the classroom. I look forward to learning more during this course! Thank you for sharing your story!
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing how you are able to find the time to travel the world and experience new cultures, while making new friends and visiting old ones. I find it inspiring how you followed your dreams and continued to learn and expand your knowledge without losing touch with your native roots. According to Ortez (2008), “SLA traditionally orients strongly towards the second language, to the point that the first language may be abstracted out of the research picture.” (p.4). Ortez’s words resonates deeply with me, because this is exactly what happened to me when I was young. Vietnamese was my first language, so in order to adapt to the American culture, I had to pick up English fast. It got to the point where English became my primary language. I cannot imagine how difficult it must have been to learn two additional languages, English and French, during middle and high school, while maintaining your native language, Spanish. I am looking forward to learning new things and gaining experiences which will help me in my future endeavors.
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ReplyDeleteHello, Dr. Avellaneda! Your introduction video truly demonstrated your relationship with not only your second and third language but also your interest in travelling the world. When first reading the syllabus, I was automatically impressed by our privilege as students to write our blog posts in Spanish or French. This option quickly allowed me to understand your proficiency in English, Spanish, and French. According to Ortega (2013), many people choose or are even forced to learn the English language due to educational or career-related factors (p. 1). From your video, it seems as though you had to learn English quickly as well as your L3 in order to succeed in your coursework at the National University of Columbia. Since your classes contained intensive classes in these new languages, you were most likely immersed in conversational and instructional learning. How was your experience at the National University of Columbia? Did you struggle at first or did the immersion you experienced help your learning process? Overall, I am inspired by your interest in teaching students English and teaching on a university level about how people learn second and additional languages.
ReplyDeleteDr. Avellaneda, I applaud you in your efforts in wanting to learn more languages than just the one you grew up speaking. According to our textbook, “In many parts of the globe, most children grow up speaking two or more languages simultaneously (Ortega, 2013, p. 4)”. You were one of the minority that spoke one language, but still strived to learn multiple languages even after high school. It sounds like you had the motivation in which, according to Stephen Krashen, paired with low anxiety gave you the comprehensible input into understanding what you were learning throughout your intensive English courses. Moreover, the fact that you kept going and went from speaking Spanish to being fluent in English is fascinating! You must have had one long, challenging journey to get to where you are now, Dr. Avellaneda. The benefits you gained by teaching English to children and adults must have been incredible. I look forward to learning a lot from you throughout this Second Language Acquisition course.
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ReplyDeleteWow, you're life story is amazing and inspiring. I also grew up speaking one language, English, and want to expand my linguistic capabilities and learn additional languages. Currently, I am learning Spanish in an naturalistic environment in my workplace. According to Ortega (2013), "Naturalistic learners learn the L2 through informal opportunities in multicultural neighborhoods, schools and workplaces, without ever receiving any organized instruction on the workings of the language they are learning." A majority of the ESL learners I've worked with have learned to speak English in the naturalistic way, due to circumstances in their homelands.
ReplyDeleteI am at the stage where I currently understand more than I have the ability to speak in Spanish, but I also think it is because I don't speak it outside of the workplace. Your love for education is also fascinating. I look forward to learning new practical things from you to use in the classroom, and look forward to have you share your knowledge from the mastery perspective of your craft.
Dr. Avellaneda, I have never known anyone who has traveled to as many diverse countries as you have. Let alone teach English and Spanish to both children and adults and in different cities. In fact, I am curious to know what the motivating factor was that encouraged you to teach English at the American Institute. Were there any major differences or challenges teaching English to kids versus teaching adults? Also, do you have a preference for either teaching English or Spanish? In the beginning of the video you mentioned how you grew up in a monolingual household speaking Spanish only, so I was wondering if teaching your mother tongue comes more naturally to you. Moreover, I find it quite extraordinary that by the end of your sophomore year you were fluent in English. From what I can tell you clearly were determined to improve your proficiency. In fact, I am reminded of Ortega’s (2009) discussion on the rate of acquisition, “or how fast progress can be made in various areas of the L2” (p. 8). As I was reading Chapter 1 and watching your video, a series of questions floated through my mind. How long does it take to truly become fluent in a second language? Do all children and adults learn at the same rate? What strategies might have aided in your own rate of acquiring English? The concept of acquiring a second language is fascinating to me, and hopefully as this course continues, I will gain a deeper understanding of SLA.
ReplyDeleteDr. Avellaneda, your journey is inspiring and fascinating! According to Ortega, individuals who learns additional languages through formal study in school or university, are known as Instructed learners and those who learn from informal settings are naturalistic learners (Ortega, 2013). You talked about how during your middle and high school years you took English and French as foreign languages and the focus being vocabulary and grammar and not so much on speaking. Your description of the undergraduate courses and programs you participated in is admiring. You mentioned that travel is an important aspect of your life and I believe that through travel you can see the diversity of language. The text states that most people learn additional languages from a mixture of both naturalistic and instructed experiences (Ortega, 2013). I think your love of travel and passion for education is great example of that. I am excited to learn from this course!
ReplyDeleteDr. Avellaneda, it is so wonderful how you have traveled the world and experienced new cultures. It’s wonderful when you are able to achieve your dreams and how great it is that you continue to learn and expand your knowledge. Your dedication is inspiring and inspires me to want to travel across the world to learn about new cultures and learn new languages. According to our textbook, “In many parts of the globe, most children grow up speaking two or more languages simultaneously (Ortega, 2013, p.4)”. You dedicated yourself to learn more than one language even though you spoke one language growing up. Even though I speak Spanish already, I want to learn more languages to be able to communicate with others who do not speak English nor Spanish. It’s encouraging to hear that you keep going and that you haven’t given up. As per my experience, I have been a nanny with a family who is from France and have been able to attain some words which coincidently helped me talk to some French students in a only French school when I was observing last semester. They were shocked when I was talking to them but were happy that I could understand some of the things they were saying to me. Overall, your experiences have opened my eyes and has made me want to travel and learn as much as I can about the different cultures that we are not totally aware of yet. I look forward to learning as much as I can from you throughout this Second Language Acquisition course. Thank you for sharing your story!
ReplyDeleteDr. Avellaneda, your life journey is truly inspirational. Like you, I was also raised in a monolingual household speaking Spanish. Stephen Krashen mentioned that individual motivation plays an important part in acquiring a second language, and by the looks of it, you definitely did not lack any motivation. I didn’t learn the English language until I began elementary school, but I can’t say that school fully taught me the language. Like you mentioned in your video, school tended to focus more on the vocabulary and grammar, and like Krashen said, that teaching model wasn’t very effective. Even though my first language was Spanish, today, I know more English than I do Spanish and this is partly because I lack the motivation to continue learning. In your video, you mentioned that once you came to the United States, you saw that your English wasn’t as good as you thought and decided to go back to school. I am currently experiencing the same issue. I have begun student teaching and I have learned that my Spanish is not as great as it should be. Ortega (2013) mentions in chapter one that people learn another language due to daily survival, education or for job relations and that is why I originally learned English, but now because of a future job, I want to pursue further education in the Spanish language. Do you have any tips on how to keep up with multiple languages?
ReplyDeleteDr. Avellaneda, your life journey is very inspirational. I love the fact that you never gave up on your dreams and made sure that you pursued them. Being able to travel the world, while seeing different cultures was an amazing experience I am sure. I love to travel myself and my goal is to start traveling to a different country every summer after I graduate. You were so dedicated in everything you did, such as learning new languages and coming to America to learn more English. As for me I am not bilingual and can only speak English, but my family is Czech so I have always wanted to learn how to speak it. As Ortega states, “In many parts of the globe, most children grow up speaking two or more languages simultaneously (Ortega, 2013, p. 4)”. Even though you grew up in a monolingual household unlike most children, you still strived to learn multiple languages. I feel as if this class is going to be very beneficial especially for us teachers who have students that speak other languages as well. I can not wait to see what this semester has in store of us. I am glad we got to know a little bit about you.
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ReplyDeleteTiene experiencias increíbles con todos tus diferentes idiomas. Admiro su historia. Es un honor estar en su clase este semestre. Sus viajes son increíbles ¡Yo voy a ir a España este verano! ¡Estoy enthusiasmada por este semestre!