Wednesday, June 22, 2011

RRJ#3

Reference: Danek, E. (2011, May 29). Study finds small language gaps in children adopted from abroad. The Canadian Press, Retrieved June 10, 2011, from:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5h-ryje9li6etIw9nM5NiEUH_gEzA?docId=6990975

Summery:According to this article, a new study suggests that there might be a slight difference in language development of an adopted child from abroad and Canadian-born peers. The Canadians seem to have better progress in their language development. Research shows some factors, which favor language development, such as middle and upper middle class families, older adoptive parents and having no children in the family. They mention that this gap is not noticeable and is nothing to worry about. This study was done on children between 7 months to 2 years. The scientist Genesee attributes their language-learning difficulties to the switching from their native language to another environment using a different language. Genesee warned parents to keep an eye on their language progress. Finally, they give an example of a Chinese girl who lives with a French family. They watch and try to develop her language by reading for her and so on. Now they no longer worry about her language progress because they care about her because she has a great progress.

Reaction:I do not fully agree with the article, “Study finds small language gaps in children adopted from abroad”. I totally believe that babies can have fabulous progress in other languages. We are not born with our language, no matter what our race, color, etc. is. Babies are able to learn languages very fast if they are in a suitable place. My friend’s daughter was 5 years old when she came to Carbondale. She attends an American school and she has a native speaker friends. Now she speaks English pretty well. I like her accent; it is like native speakers accent. Since they are young and have a normal level of understanding and live with native speakers I believe they can make progress on the language exactly like native-born babies.

No comments:

Post a Comment