WOK language - global views

1. Read “Every teacher is a language teacher” from IB World

Begin a blog post, entitled 'WOK language - global views'

Comment on the quote from the article from a personal perspective as a student: "...learning additional languages enhances the learning of the 'mother tongue' as well as broadening a student's worldview."

            From my own perspective, as a student, I personally believe that learning more than one language is very helpful in life, that it enhances the learning of the original language that we learn growing up, and that is broadens my own worldview. This is mainly due to the state of our country at this particular time. Within the past few years, more and more people from different countries have been moving to our own country. This means that there have been a plethora of new languages that have infiltrated our country. Therefore, not only is learning a new language important if we decided to study abroad or if we decided to move to a different country, but it is also very helpful in our own country so that we can communicate with the people that have moved here from all over the world. Additionally, by learning a new language, we tend to grasp a better understanding of our own language as well.

2. View Are Alex and Ray different from the rest (most) of us?

Comment on the qualities you see that Alex and Ray have that support language learning. If relevant, describe someone you know like this (and that may be yourself!)

            I find it fascinating how Alex grew up with a mother who spoke English, Greek, and French to him. He grew up learning different languages, and from there his love for learning languages continued to grow. Additionally, not only did he study different languages in school, but he also taught himself and he moved to different countries so that he could surround himself with the culture of language, and so that he could learn more languages. Ray is also an extremely fascinating individual. His job allowed him to move to different countries so that he could immerse himself in the language, and he taught himself as well. I really don’t know anyone who is as talented as these two individuals, but I do have one fried that might be like them one day. Her name is Meredith, and she has been learning French in school for a while. However, she is also in the process of teaching herself Spanish, German, Arabic, Italian, and Gallic. She is an amazing individual, and I am sure that someday she will be fluent in as many languages as Alex and Ray!

3. Explore 'interesting facts about languages'

Comment on 'fact 10: the best way to learn a language' [there's also a video]

What sort of language learner do you identify yourself with? In what ways have your language class learning experiences suited your best way of learning languages (as always, give specifc examples)?

            After reading this selection, Ibelieve that I am somewhat of a mix of both an auditory and a visiual learner. This is mainly due to the fact that I remember things better when I see how they are spelled, and when I can read then and then write them myself. For example, in my Spanish class, whenever we are learning something new, we usually have a new vocabulary list, or we read from some kind of text, and then we work out the words we don’t know by using the context provided. However, I also learn very well by hearing other people say things so that I can see how they are pronounced and so that I can repeat them to myself over and over again so that they are imprinted on my mind. For example, when it comes time to study for a test I find it very helpful to read the words aloud so that I will remember them.