preserving the L1

[Patty Schuler]

In your opinion, is it the school's responsibility, or the family's responsibility to preserve the ELL's L1? I think that it would be a shame to lose the L1, but I know families who actually seem to want to lose it, maybe to make them seem more "American". What do your families want?

[aziza22]

Hi Patty,

In my opinion, I think it's important to preserve the L1. The students should be made aware of the significance and value of their native language but should also strive to learn their L2. I understand that the pressure of "Americanization" exists and the families may want to completely erase it but it's important as educators to teach the students that their native language should not be forgotten.

[arp10]

I feel that it would be extremely difficult for educators to be able to preserve an ELL's L1. There are many students with various cultural backgrounds who need to know the importance of their native language and culture. However, in my opinion, it is up to the individual's family to pass on what they feel is most important to them.

[lee115]

I think preserving the L1 is a responsibility to be shared by the family and teacher (school). However, the weight of this task lies on the family - the family should continue to maintain its L1. The teacher could support this endeavor by reminding students (in words and activities) how important one's language/culture is and that learning English does not mean to forget or hide one's background.

[Jeff28]

I think that as educators, we can help them see value in their L1 in many ways, such as using their culture in lessons. I do think it is important that we do our best, but the family is the first frame of reference, and our success (in maintaining the L1) is largely dependent on them.

[Sally Olsen]

Most of our families enroll their children in Saturday school in their L1. These are private tutoring type schools run by parents and qualified teachers that they hire. They do a lot of fun activities as well as language and culture training.

[ummsultan]

I agree with most of the posters on this thread. Though I think that teachers can help support and encourage students in maintaining their L1, it ultimately depends on the value placed on that language within the family. There are some families who, in their desire to assimilate purposely don't encourage their children to maintain their L1, in this case I think it would be rather difficult for any teacher trying to encourage it's use. If teachers were perhaps able to reach out to parents so that they could understand the value of the L1 maybe it would facilitate the process.

[amytrabs]

I also agree with what people have been saying. I believe it is vital for both the teacher and family to encourage use of the L1 at appropriate times. Students shouldn't think that using their L1 is a crime or discouraged, but rather should be made aware that their culture/traditions/background is a part of them and something to be proud of and something that should be respected by others. Additionally it is important for the teacher to communicate with the parents and make sure the parents are aware of this as well. ESL teachers should try their best to incorporate culture and even L1 in some activities. As a new ESL teacher in a student teaching setting, I want to establish some sort of communication with the parents, so I am creating a worksheet with pictures of some things such as food, traditions, culture, holiday, hobbies, and asking the student to work on the worksheet with their parents and write the word as well as a sentence about how that word is significant to their culture/share a special moment they had with their family (all in their L1). Students will then bring the worksheet to class and share with their peers in the L1 and then explain in English what they said. I feel this establishes a mutual respect from peers as well as makes the student feel respected and accepted.

[claudie.ars]

In Quebec, we do not have the same problem. Instead, we have children who do not want to learn a second language. It makes it difficult for teachers to do their work.
I think it is really important to keep our L1, even if you might not need it in your future. It is part of what you are and it is what we have to make our students understand, whereever we are in the world and whatever is the language. Our language is prt of our roots, our history. Once children understand that ,it is easier to then show them the advantages to learning another language.
On your side, I think that parents should be the ones who insist on keeping the L1 because you might have students of several different L1.