Influences of Family, Culture, and Society in Early Childhood (EDUC - 8853 )

Course Project (Major Assessment) Challenge and Sub-topic

by Salvador Perez

Dear colleagues at Walden University:

In considering my topic for the course project (Major Assessment for this class), I found one that truly interests me because I serve this student population. The challenge is “Children who are dual or multiple language learners”.

When I first encountered this topic, I thought on concentrating my research on Bilingual Hispanic students because this is my area of concentration and because I have read a substantial amount of research that advises that Bilingual education is the best approach to teach this student population”. At this moment, it came to my mind our readings and discussions about bias and this thought reveled a bias approach in my practice. The thought that this approach will work for every situation, including teaching classrooms with culturally diverse students, was naïve and pointed to a prominent bias in my teaching.

 As a result of this reflection and in order to address this bias on my practice, I have decided to focus my Course Project’s research on the suggested Challenge of “Children who are dual or multiple language learners” and the topic of “home language/ school language divide”.

Through this research study I am hoping to expand my understanding of multiple language learners, learn about best practices in teaching this student population to enhance my practice, and the advantages/ disadvantages of teaching second languages learners in the target language (in this case, English) while they speak another language at home.

What is your opinion on teaching this student population? What approach (es) may be more effective in serving these students?

Do you have any suggestions on academic research that would help me to enhance my understanding and practice?

Please feel free to write your comments and feedback.

Thanks for your time and consideration!