Bilingualism: A Holistic Perspective
Bilingual Educational
Policy
University professors and
bilingual teachers must consider more than the
linguistic aspect of bilingualism
Influence of their socio-psycholinguistic
development
How linguistic factors interact in their lifes
Social and
cultural factors
Types of Bilinguals
Sequential
Subtema
Develop mastery or proficiency in one language before acquiring the second language
Simultaneous
Grow up learning two languages in their environment from infancy
Views:
Fractional
Describes bilinguals as being the equivalent of two monolinguals in one person
Develop parallel linguistic competence in both languages simultaneously.
Holistic
Integrates knowledge of and from both languages
The total of the two languages is greater than their sum because they interact with each other to increase the functionality of each.
Benefits of Bilingualism:
Communicative competence
Able to maintain family communication and
interaction across generations
Psychological
Increase self-esteem and the cohesion of
their families
Socio-Cultural
Bilingulas develop a bicultural worldview and identity
Cognitive Competence
Young bilingual children have greater semantic flexibility than their monolingual peers.
