PHINMA CAGAYAN DE ORO COLLEGE

COC-FA-ENG2-04

Case Study on Language Acquisition in Bilingual Children

Ellaine Jane Sinontao

Mr. Norman P. Aleño, LPT, MAEd

Subject Instructor
This case study thoroughly explores the bilingual language acquisition of Jamie, a 9-year-
old residing in the culturally diverse setting of Cagayan de Oro City. Rooted in both Filipino
and American backgrounds, Jamie's linguistic journey unfolds within a dynamic
environment. While attending a private school surrounded by English-speaking peers,
Jamie employs Bisaya and Tagalog with family members, while exclusively using English
with her American father, showing that her language usage extends beyond individual
languages, incorporating instances of code-switching and language mixing. The goal is to
comprehensively understand Jamie's language development, considering the impact of
cultural, linguistic, and environmental factors.

Jamie's linguistic skills corresponds with nativist theory, suggesting that her innate
language acquisition capacity allows her to effortlessly master Bisaya, Tagalog, and English.
Also, behaviorist theory is evident in her diverse language use at home, reflecting a vibrant
linguistic environment influenced by both nativist and behaviorist principles. Positive
reinforcement plays a pivotal role in Jamie's linguistic journey. Family members
acknowledge and commend adept language switches, contributing to Jamie's confidence
and proficiency. While specific language learning strategies are not explicitly mentioned,
Jamie's natural language development and adaptive strategies indicate a proactive
approach in overcoming potential challenges.

Key milestones in Jamie's language development provides us a detailed view of her

proficiency progress in Bisaya, Tagalog, and English. For example, at the age of six, Jamie
demonstrated advanced vocabulary skills in English, revealing her early language abilities.
Approaching eight, her capacity to seamlessly switch between Bisaya, Tagalog, and English
in various contexts became more evident, indicating a significant developmental milestone.
These achievements align well with typical language acquisition patterns for a child of her
age, showcasing noteworthy proficiency in all three languages.

We can also take glimpses into how bilingualism shapes Jamie's cultural identity. Jamie's
exposure to Bisaya, Tagalog, and English reflects a unique blend of Filipino and American
cultural influences. The family's intentional use of multiple languages underscores the
values of cultural diversity and linguistic richness, contributing to Jamie's diverse cultural
identity. It suggests that language serves as a channel for preserving cultural heritage and
fostering a sense of connection to both Filipino and American roots.
In navigating language challenges, Jamie displays a remarkable ability to adapt. For
instance, when encountering unfamiliar words or expressions, she employs contextual cues
and seeks clarification from teachers, family, or peers. Jamie showcases a resilient
approach, utilizing repetition and visual aids to reinforce her understanding. These coping
strategies provide a nuanced understanding of Jamie's proactive efforts to overcome
linguistic hurdles. Notably, Jamie does not exhibit a distinct preference for one language,
showcasing linguistic adaptability based on context. Social interactions reveal Jamie's ease
in navigating conversations in Bisaya, Tagalog, and English, adjusting language use
seamlessly with peers and adults.

Jamie's parents actively support her bilingual language development by consciously

incorporating Bisaya, Tagalog, and English in family interactions. They enhance language
exposure through educational activities, books, and games tailored to Jamie's
developmental stage. Additionally, their collaboration with Jamie's school reinforces
consistent bilingual support, showcasing intentional efforts in fostering her multilingual
proficiency. Parental involvement is evident in actively supporting Jamie's language
acquisition. Intentional efforts by parents foster proficiency in Bisaya, Tagalog, and English,
reflecting a holistic approach to bilingual upbringing. The parental perception is positive,
without expressing concerns about Jamie's bilingual language development.

In conclusion, Jamie's bilingual language journey offers valuable insights into the
interconnected factors of culture, language, and environment. The mix of languages in
diverse contexts, coupled with positive reinforcement and intentional parental efforts,
contributes to Jamie's adaptable linguistic skills. The case study suggests that Jamie's
ability to speak multiple languages might help her think better and be more flexible. It
could also make her good at understanding different cultures and getting along with people.
In terms of academics, being bilingual might help her understand language better. As Jamie
continues to navigate this linguistic landscape, further research and observation will help
us understand how this might affect how she thinks and learns, as well as her social and
emotional development in the future.

Based on the case study's findings, it is recommended to maintain a diverse linguistic

environment for Jamie by consistently exposing her to Bisaya, Tagalog, and English in
various contexts. Cultivating a language-rich home environment, incorporating positive
reinforcement, and engaging in cultural activities can further enhance her language
development. Collaboration with Jamie's school, encouragement of natural code-switching,
and providing diverse reading materials tailored to her interests are additional strategies to
support her ongoing bilingual journey. These recommendations aim to nurture Jamie's
language skills while fostering a positive attitude towards bilingualism.

Case Study on Language Acquisition in Bilingual Children Rubric

 Needs Improvement
Criteria Excellent (10) Good (7) Satisfactory (5) (3)
Thoroughly documents Documents and
and analyzes the stages analyzes language Provides limited
of language development Adequately documentation of
development in both effectively, with a clear documents language language
Documentation of languages, providing presentation of key development but may development, with
Language detailed insights into milestones in each lack depth or detail in insufficient analysis of
Development milestones. language. analysis of milestones. milestones.
Provides a Effectively analyzes
comprehensive analysis language exposure, Presents an adequate
of sources and patterns identifying key sources analysis of language Offers a limited
of language exposure, and patterns, though exposure but may analysis of language
Examination of highlighting primary may lack depth in lack thorough exposure with
Language Exposure influencers and their explaining their exploration of sources minimal insight into
and Input impact. impact. and patterns. sources and patterns.
Thoroughly investigates Adequately explores
instances of code- Effectively explores instances of code-
switching and language code-switching and switching and Provides a limited
mixing, offering a language mixing, language mixing but exploration of code-
nuanced understanding providing insights into may lack depth or switching and
Exploration of Code- of contexts and reasons contexts and reasons, clarity in language mixing with
Switching and behind language though depth may understanding minimal insight into
Language Mixing alternation. vary. contexts. contexts and reasons.
Skillfully assesses the Adequately assesses Provides a limited
child's language Effectively assesses language preferences assessment of
Assessment of preferences and language preferences and dominance but language preferences
Language dominance in various and dominance, may lack depth or and dominance with
Preference and contexts, providing though depth or thoroughness in minimal insight or
Dominance detailed explanations. clarity may vary. explanation. clarity.
Thoroughly examines Adequately examines
how the child navigates Effectively analyzes social interactions but Provides a limited
social interactions in social interactions, may lack depth or analysis of social
both languages, offering insights into clarity in interactions with
Analysis of Social providing detailed variations in language understanding minimal insight into
and Peer insights into variations use, though depth variations in language variations in language
Interactions in language use. may vary. use. use.
Skillfully identifies
language challenges Adequately identifies Provides a limited
faced by the bilingual Effectively identifies language challenges identification of
Identification of child and thoroughly language challenges and coping strategies language challenges
Language explores coping and coping strategies, but may lack depth or and coping strategies
Challenges and strategies, providing though depth or thoroughness in with minimal insight
Coping Strategies detailed insights. clarity may vary. explanation. or clarity.
Assessment of Skillfully assesses the Effectively assesses Adequately assesses Provides a limited
Parental level of parental parental involvement, parental involvement assessment of
Involvement and involvement in offering insights into but may lack depth or parental involvement
Support supporting bilingual intentional efforts, thoroughness in with minimal insight
language development, though depth may explaining intentional or clarity.
providing detailed vary. efforts.
 Needs Improvement
Criteria Excellent (10) Good (7) Satisfactory (5) (3)
insights into intentional
efforts made by
parents.
Thoroughly analyzes Adequately analyzes
the impact of the educational Provides a limited
child's educational environment influence analysis of
environment on Effectively analyzes but may lack depth or educational
Analysis of bilingual language educational thoroughness in environment
Educational development, environment influence, explanation. influence with
Environment considering exposure though depth or minimal insight or
Influence to different settings. clarity may vary. clarity.
Skillfully explores how Adequately explores Provides a limited
bilingualism Effectively explores cultural identity and exploration of cultural
contributes to the cultural identity and bilingualism but may identity and
child's cultural identity, bilingualism, offering lack depth or bilingualism with
identifying cultural insights into thoroughness in minimal insight or
Exploration of values associated with contributions and explanation. clarity.
Cultural Identity and language use in the cultural values, though
Bilingualism family. depth may vary.
Skillfully predicts Effectively predicts
potential long-term long-term impact,
benefits and challenges offering insights into
of bilingualism for the benefits and Adequately predicts Provides a limited
child, considering challenges, though long-term impact but prediction of long-
Prediction of Long- cognitive, socio- depth may vary. may lack depth or term impact with
Term Impact of emotional, and thoroughness in minimal insight or
Bilingualism academic aspects. explanation. clarity.
Thoroughly Adequately Provides a limited
understands and understands language understanding of
analyzes the language learning strategies but language learning
learning strategies Effectively understands may lack depth or strategies with
employed by the and analyzes language thoroughness in minimal insight or
Understanding the bilingual child in learning strategies, explanation. clarity.
Role of Language different language though depth or
Learning Strategies contexts. clarity may vary.
Adequately Provides a limited
Skillfully contextualizes Effectively contextualizes contextualization of
the child's language contextualizes language language
development within language development development with development with
Contextualization of cultural practices with cultural practices, cultural practices but minimal insight or
Language related to language offering insights into may lack depth or clarity.
Development with use, including rituals or connections, though thoroughness in
Cultural Practices traditions. depth may vary. explanation.
Evaluation of Thoroughly evaluates Effectively evaluates Adequately evaluates Provides a limited
Influence of Cultural how cultural and the influence of cultural and linguistic evaluation of cultural
and Linguistic linguistic factors cultural and linguistic factors but may lack and linguistic factors
Factors influence language factors, though depth depth or with minimal insight
acquisition in the or clarity may vary. thoroughness in or clarity.
 Needs Improvement
Criteria Excellent (10) Good (7) Satisfactory (5) (3)
bilingual child. explanation.
Skillfully provides Adequately provides
recommendations for Effectively provides recommendations but
supporting the child's recommendations, may lack depth or
continued bilingual offering insights into thoroughness in Provides a limited set
Recommendations language development, language support, explanation. of recommendations
for Language based on study though depth or with minimal insight
Support findings. clarity may vary. or clarity.

Oral Recitation Rubric:

 Criteria Exceptional (5) Proficient (4) Basic (3) Limited (2) Unsatisfactory (1)
Pronunciation and Consistently clear Difficult to
Articulation and Generally clear and Occasionally unclear, understand Inaudible or unclear
articulate with articulate with due to frequent and disrupts
precise minimal affecting overall errors comprehension
pronunciation, errors in
enhancing pronunciation, comprehension and lack of clarity
overall maintaining
comprehension. comprehension.
Smooth and natural Generally smooth Occasional Frequent
Fluency flow, with disruptions in disruptions in Stilted and awkward
maintaining some pauses and flow, hindering with prolonged
appropriate hesitations flow, impacting overall pauses
that do not hinder
pace and rhythm. overall overall fluency. fluency.
Demonstrates Displays good Lacks understanding
Content Knowledge thorough understanding Demonstrates basic Shows limited or
understanding of the of the topic, understanding of the understanding of knowledge of the
topic, conveying topic, the topic
providing relevant but lacks depth or topic, with
details relevant details and clarity. inaccuracies
and insights. insights. and inaccuracies.
Expression and Expressive and Generally expressive Somewhat Limited expression Monotonous delivery
Delivery engaging with expressive, but and with
lacks consistent limited
delivery, capturing occasional monotony. engagement. engagement. little engagement
audience attention.
Eye Contact and Body Maintains consistent Limited eye contact Rare or no eye
Language eye Adequate eye contact and contact No eye contact and
contact, uses and minimal use of inappropriate body
appropriate and body language, minimal use of body body language
gestures and demonstrating
posture. engagement. language. language.
Engaging and Limited
Overall Presentation Highly engaging and effective Adequate, but lacks a effectiveness, Ineffective and lacks
effective presentation with with significant
presentation minor strong impact. flaws. impact.