Breaking Language Barriers: Connections between Foreign Language and English Language Arts

Lauren Booth, '09, Leah A. Nillas

Research output: Faculty Advisor of Undergraduate Research

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between foreign language and English language arts. In previous literature, foreign language has been shown to positively affect students' performance in other subject areas as well as developing their cognitive abilities. When I thought about my own teaching experiences, I made direct connections between foreign language and English language arts in terms of vocabulary acquisition and grammar. Through interviews I found that other teachers are also aware of those connections and deliberately use them to enhance their instruction and defend the study of a foreign language. Upon investigating foreign language standards across the country, I noticed that they also identify this relationship between foreign language and English language arts. The standards include goals that promote the comparison of languages to further students' understanding of languages as a whole and also to reinforce English concepts. Overall, I have found that there are positive benefits to studying a foreign language, particularly in terms of enhancing students' language art skills.
Original languageAmerican English
StatePublished - Apr 2009

Disciplines

  • Education
  • Mathematics

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