Thoughts on Language 2

Speaking & Talking

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas

We are approaching the close of the school year and we are taking a look at the language development of our learners.  We have looked at the development of reading and writing, and now we take a look at the skills of speaking and talking.  This is done by defining Language, Speaking, and Talking.  These definitions are then applied to the level of skill our students have develop and can demonstrate.  This development and demonstration by our students, lets us, as educators, learn from what we have taught.  This process allows us to see the growth that our learners have done over the school year, and can help us further prepare them for the challenges they will face as they continue in their educational path.

Language

Language is the communication skills developed by learners.  These communication skills are diverse, and our students develop them and demonstrate them, each as best they can.  Each student arrived with a unique level of language development at the start of the year, and now, that development should be reflective of what they have learned up to now.  What they have learned should be reflective of what we have taught them.  Differences between what has been learned, and what has been taught, are to be expected and anticipated, for sometimes skill development and demonstration of skill can go beyond what has been taught.

Speaking

Speaking is a communication skill that we develop to express in an auditory manner.  We hear sounds and feel vibrations that we try to replicate.  Speaking allows us to express our thoughts and ideas directly into audio, allowing others to hear our speech.  Speech can then be preserved by the tools of technology which we have like writing, recording, and publishing.  Speech can also be broadcast and shared with those whom we are able to reach through various means of communication.  Having our students develop their speaking skills will help aid the growth of language.

Talking

Talking is a communication skill that we develop to engage with others.  Talking helps us engage in conversation so we may exchange ideas and thoughts by speaking to one another.  When we talk we must alternate between speaking and listening, and because of this, talking is a skill which should help us develop a balance as we speak and listen.  It also requires us to develop processing skills so that we may accurately express what we say and understand what we hear.  Having our students develop their talking skills will help aid the growth of language.

Copyright 2013.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Thoughts on Language

Reading & Writing

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas

As we approach the close of the school year, it is worth taking a look at the language development of our learners, language development in the skills of reading and writing.  We do this by looking at the definitions of Language, Reading, and Writing, and applying these definitions to the level of skill that our learners have develop and can demonstrate.  We do this for the purpose of studying what we, as educators, have taught our learners.  We do this to see the growth that our learners have done, so that it may also be seen by learners, educators, and others who have worked in the language development of our learners.

Language

We define language as the communication skills developed by learners.  These skills are diverse and developed differently by each of our students.  Each learner arrived to our classroom this year with a unique level of language development.  By now, those students should be at a higher language development level than they were at when the school year started.  Their communication skills should have increased as our students learn from us this year.  Two important language skills to focus on are reading and writing.

Reading

Reading is a communication skill that we develop by having access to diverse material that is age and grade level appropriate.  It is also developed by introducing and increasing the vocabulary of our learners.  Students should be able to read material that is suitable for their age and grade, and be able to show that they understood and comprehend the material they have read.  Reading is an essential skill for students to develop for most of the information and knowledge which we have is accessible as reading material.  It is because of this that reading should be matched with writing.

Writing

Writing is a communication skill that we develop for the purpose of expressing our thoughts and ideas so they may be presented to others for evaluation, interpretation, and clarification.  Technology has allow us to no longer limit our writing skills to calligraphy and penmanship.  We are now also in need to develop typing, formatting, and printing as new language writing skills.  Writing becomes reading material, and reading material in turn inspires writing.  It is because of this that reading and writing should be amongst the primary language skills that our students should develop.

Copyright 2012.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.