The Achievement in Learning English as a Second Language of Children from Thai-Bilingual Families
At present the idea of raising children in a bilingual environment is appealing and possible for more and more families because the term of globalization. Children who are growing up with more than one language may have its advantages in today's global world. Yet bilingualism is not something new that simply happens. Bilingualism can be described in two different ways. First, bilingualism means an equal ability to communicate in two languages. Second, bilingualism means the ability to communicate in two languages but with the possibility of greater skills in one language. Learning a second language is a focus in speaking, listening, writing and reading in that language beside their native language. A second language is also often learned in an environment in which it is not heard outside of the classroom.
These days, the number of Thai children speaking other languages especially English language in Thailand is expected to increase in the next decade. Many more Thai middle class families are increasing. Moreover, parents have opportunities to study in high education. They have seen the importance of language especially English language which plays an important role worldwide. Parents in globalization world want their children to be competent in many languages at the same time in the early years of life. This is because the early stage of life, between 1-5 years or preschool years, is the stage of learning language acquisition. The brain of children effort required to master the two languages instead of one certainly diminishes the child’s power of learning other things which might and ought to be learned (Jesperson, 1922).
In my opinion, I think bringing up children bilingually is a good idea to clarify what bilingual systems fit for each family. Families including both Thai parents but speak foreign language and native language will provide bilingual systems suiting for their families and children in Thai environment. More Thai children from bilingual families are entering bilingual schools or international schools and tend to have a better learning skill than monolingual children. Therefore, if I have a chance to have my own children in the future, I will bring up my children bilingually because I believe that bilingual system will help children to have a better achievement in learning English as a second language.
Poonsinsiri Poolsuk 530132022
I agree with her. “Learning a foreign language is worth two men.” (Language Institute, Chiang Mai University) We might know either their life style or culture. That’s what we can call that studying of cross-cultural communication is the way of modernized people should do in these days. It’s challenging. Cultures tend to provide people with the ways of thinking – ways of seeing, hearing, and interpreting the world. (Wikipedia, 2008) I think a bilingual school should be more promoted among non-English speaker countries because their generation won’t miss exploring new things in changing world. They can express their own ideas through the public without shyness. I like this kind of thinking. There is no right or wrong answer for students but it must be in the same topic. Even they have been raised in their culture, learning a foreign language, their identity still belong to such country.
ReplyDeleteI do believe the same as you. It's very important to speak at least 2 languages in this near future. The world is smaller than before and we require our people to communicate with foreigners. Besides, most of the electrical devices such as computer and mobile phones are available in foreign language, especially English. This emphasizes an essential benefit of bilingual. Higher education also require participants who are able to communicate with foreign language too. Finally, I always believe that "It is better to know something than do not know anything"
ReplyDeleteI agree with this idea that nowadays people should know the second or another languages especially English. It is the tool for international communication and exchanging idea. It helps us to access to information on the internet and other media worldwide.
ReplyDeleteIt is better to learn another language since a person is young as mentioned in Jesperson, 1922. So, attending bilingual school or international school will give a change for young children to be familiar with the second language and its cultural context. They will be able to communicate fluently in the second language which is very important for globalization. However, parents should help their children about Thai language and culture, so they will not lose their identity. For me, I also teach and speak some English to my son though is only 2 years old. Sometimes we sing English songs together. However, our family tries to keep our identity. So, my son could also speak both Central Thai and Northern Thai dialect.
Personally, bilingual program is quite new for me because I never know the families or the schools that teach in bilingual school in my life. I agree that knowing only one language is not enough. Knowing more than one language is very important nowadays because of the globalization. And bilingual system is a good way to help children get more competencies on a second language. But, in Thai society, I think that it is difficult to encourage bilingual system be in Thai families. I believe that there is little number of Thai families that teach their children in bilingual because Thais are familiar to speak Thai language within their family especially, the old generation like parents. And the second reason I think is that Thais are very shy and quite conservative. For me, my mother is English teacher and she never speak with me in English. She just teach me about my English homeworks. Therefore, in my opinion, bilingual program is sometime not easy in Thai society.
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