Language and Learning

Philosophy Project
By: Kelci Ellis
 What is language?
-Form of communication; may it be verbal, written,
gestures

-Comes in many forms

-Has a strong tie to culture

- As Rojas and Reagan (2003) note, language is at

the heart of social life (12) and central to
self-identity, to our sense of who we are (6).
 How do people learn languages?
-Putting concrete things to words

-Repetition

-Modeling/scaffolding

-Group work

-Contextualizing instruction
 What is the relationship between
language and learning in general?
-Language facilitates learning
 What are some strategies you will
use with multilingual learners in
your classroom?
-Visuals

-Small groups/ collaboration with peers

-Give students opportunity to participate in class/groups often

-Encourage students to use their home language in the classroom

-Contextualized instruction
References

Garca, O., & Kleifgen, J. (2010). Educating emergent bilinguals: Policies,

programs, and practices for English language learners. New York, NY:
Teachers College Press.

Gibbons, P. (2015). Scaffolding language, scaffolding learning: Teaching

English language learners in the mainstream classroom (2nd ed.).
Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann

Tamura, Eileen H. Hawaii Creole (Pidgin), Local Identity, and

Schooling. Educational Perspectives, 3.