Bilingualism in the Modern World - Essay Example

Bilingualism Bilingualism opened my eyes when I walked into a Beefsteak restaurant in Philadelphia, USA that had posted a sign, which read ‘Orders inEnglish Only. My initial, and ignorant, reaction was that the man is right. However, after spending these months studying bilingualism I have tempered my ignorance and re-evaluated the situation. I was responding to a very insular trend of thought, and an all too popular ethnocentric viewpoint that says I speak English, so why should I learn another language. The question of bilingualism has been used a political wedge in the USA where many states have enacted legislation that bans bilingual education. Initiatives, such as Californias Proposition 227, have passed and made the English Immersion program the language program of choice. This has placed a disproportionate number of immigrant children at a disadvantage in terms of education. The opponents of bilingual education may be sincere in their pursuit, but their efforts have only served to polarize the country along an ethnic divide. Unfortunately, many of the opponents to bilingual education seem to lack a basic understanding of how second languages are acquired or the merits of a bilingual program. In addition, their efforts seem to suggest that being bilingual would threaten the American national identity. Many Americans believe that only one language is necessary, and that language is English. They suggest that if you speak another language, then you have no right to be in America or call yourself an American. In recent years the US Supreme Court, the highest court in the land, has been brought in to mediate the issues of bilingualism, and has shown some support for bilingualism. In the case Lau v. Nichols, the parents of children with limited English ability that had been denied a bilingual program brought a class action suit against the school. In this case the court ruled in favor of those seeking to obtain the bilingual education. The political wrangling that surrounds bilingualism is a global issue and is not unique to the USA. In South Korea, where I work as English conversation teacher, I have witnessed situations where the political aspect of bilingualism has resulted in parents arguing against their children learning English at too early of an age due to the fear of losing their Korean identity. Further, when the present president of South Korea sought to introduce English only classes for certain subjects in Middle School and High School, there was almost a national revolt to the suggestion. So, bilingualism as a course can claim me as a convert. I am now a strong advocate of becoming bilingual and I believe that learning a second language does not retard the development of your mother tongue, but enhances your total language skill. In this era of globalization being bilingual provides you with a great marketable skill for you and your country. Culture The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis claims that the structure of the primary language that one habitually uses influences the manner in which one thinks and behaves. Many educators discount the seriousness of the strong version of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis that posits that language determines the way we think. From my personal experience of living in South Korea there is strong evidence to support the educators skepticism. Because Korean culture has its roots in Confucianism, a religion/ideology with its foundation based on seniority, the culture strongly influences the way people speak. Having been an English conversation teacher in South Korea for 8 years, my western colleagues and I find it incomprehensible that Korean students, on meeting a new person, would ask such personal questions such as how old are you?. Reviewing the make up of the Korean language and culture has removed many of my frustrations, while socio-linguistics have helped me to examine the concept; does culture affect a language or vice versa. Korean culture is seniority based and the net result of this is that when Koreans meet a new person, there is a need to establish the older person in the relationship. This is because in the Korean language, speakers use different words for younger and older people. For instance there are two words for an older or younger man. Hyungnam if he is older and Dongsaeng if he is younger. The point is based on the seniority culture that has a tremendous effect on the language and the way it’s used. This is different in western cultures, where one could argue that the language affects the culture and vice versa. Western culture strongly affects the way one perceives a new acquaintance and the person is invariably addressed in a polite fashion, while often dropping titles and formalities. So, the net result of Korean culture affecting its language is also borne out in other areas. Korean students, when learning English, learn through a Korean culture mindset. A mindset that says age and position are relevant in any level of communication. One can rightly argue that Korean culture wields such a mighty influence that it not only influences the way Koreans speak their own language, but also their approach to learning and speaking English. Noted author Byram (2003) deals with intercultural communication and makes two recommendations that highlight ways in which my colleagues and I should approach the frustrating experience of students that are affected by their own culture in speaking a second language. First, a native teacher should display a certain attitude of curiosity and openness about culture, and be willing to suspend disbelief about other cultures as well as beliefs about one’s own. Indeed, from my own perspective, I have failed to do this for the better part of 7 years. Secondly, it is important to use ones skills of discovery and interaction to acquire new knowledge of a culture and cultural practices. The teacher can then use this ability to integrate knowledge, attitudes, and skills, while operating under the constraints of real time communication and interaction. I must confess that since acquiring this knowledge I have noticed a major shift in my attitude towards my students, as they seek to learn and speak English, using their own cultural mindset. Read More