Power of Language Essay

Veronika M. Jackson

Los Angeles Pacific University

ENGL 420: Principles of Language

Pastor Smarr

December 18, 2023

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The importance of language study helps students to simply interact with their fellow

peers or even adults. Most people think they can stick to their mobile devices, which already

provides a shortcut in our quick thinking by helping us spell words, or let you know that we

misspelled a word. However, when we are speaking to someone we don’t know that we misspell,

but will know if we mispronounce it. A result of this can happen due to a lack of language

fundamentals, and we can’t fix ourselves to help support what we mean without knowing what

language is. Once you can comprehend basic language, then you begin to understand how

language works and where it becomes challenging.

Language is the critical skill that educated children need in the future because if they do

not know how to speak to their future employer, how can they get the job they desire ? Without

clearly speaking how they can make a difference in a job location, or at a school they will not be

able to make it anywhere in life that will allow them to see a future outside of what they already

know. As we get more into the 21st century we are seeing there are new ways to get a job and

how it works, yet as most can see the people who get a job the quickest happen to be the ones

who know 2 languages. Even though knowing 2 languages can seem as an advantage, that is not

always the case, as most struggle to follow understanding one of their languages while growing

up. For some students they grow up learning 2 languages. Sometimes these languages can mix

up for them where they will know half of their language in their first language and the other half

of their words in their second language. This is a very common language struggle for those who

come from a ‘native or culture’ background. Even Though they struggle, learning a second

language does benefit in the end, as this second language can improve a child’s social skill by

enhancing cognitive functions and brain development”(Helen Doron). I believe that speaking in
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both languages will improve all future students' personalities and behavior to want to ask

questions to others without feeling left out or embarrassed.

Even though we are in the 21st century and most kids will be adapted to having their

computers a part of their daily school necessities, I want to make sure that my students are still

learning how to properly form structured sentences. What I mean by this is they must have a

knowledgeable understanding of how language works, from their meanings, how to spell a

word, along with how to place it correctly in a sentence. Without a smooth following sentence,

students won’t be able to fully understand the concept they want to state. I will first begin by

teaching students new vocabulary words. These are words that they must be able to spell, use

in a sentence that provides detail into their definition without giving it away. This will help me to

first see what kind of level the class averages at as a whole to find where we need to start, then

individually I will know where to seat my students so they can help one another in an

educational setting. Since there are countless apps/games that are being created to help learn

new words, I would allow for this 21st century tool to be a way to encourage the students to find

new words that can help grow everyone's vocabulary.

With the apps, I want to personally include workbooks that the students can take home

and help them write down new words they come across, but they must write the word down from

how they hear it verbally. Then try and guess the definition of the word before they can look up

the proper meaning and spelling. Memory skills will help students, along with their

comprehension skills, which during this phase a lot of students will be able to multitask as they

do this while they play the game. Each month there will be progress reports that will allow for

the parent and student to see if their child has improved in their language skills, and want to

explore more in the world to inquire about a higher goal in their life if they want.
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The spiritual tools that I will use, as a Christian woman I will always pray over my class,

but given the different cultures and religions I will not force any child onto my own religion. I will

encourage all my students to pray, thank or honor the person their family chooses to honor,

before you start your day so that it automatically starts on a good note. As far as the emotional

side goes together with the spiritual, if a student does not believe in themselves then they will

not succeed like they hope to. Do not have fear that you will fail but have hope that you will do

your best and grow from whatever happens in the end. This is the best spiritual and emotional

tool that I can offer to my students.

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References

How Learning a Second Language Can Improve Your Child’s Social Skills and Overcome

Language Barriers. (2023, June 18). Helen Doron English.

https://helendoron.com/english/how-learning-a-second-language-can-improve-your-childs-social

-skills-and-overcome-language-barriers/

Benefits of Language Learning. ACTFL Language Connects.

https://www.actfl.org/educator-resources/guiding-principles-for-language-learning/benefits-of-la

nguage-learning#:~:text=Language%20learning%20develops%20essential%2021st,thinking%20

beyond%20self%2Dserving%20goals.