“Successful” migration, (English) language skills and global inequality: The case of Bangladeshi migrants to the Middle East

Multilingua ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 253-281
Author(s):  
Elizabeth J. Erling ◽  
Qumrul Hasan Chowdhury ◽  
Mike Solly ◽  
Philip Seargeant
Keyword(s):  
Language Development ◽  
International Development ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Perceived Value ◽  
English Language Development ◽  
British Council ◽  
Rural Bangladesh ◽  
Link Type ◽  
English Language Skills

Abstract Migration has become a vital element of the Bangladeshi economy, which has led to an increasing focus on providing Bangladeshis with the skills needed on the international labour market. English is often cited as one of these skills, and previous research has shown that a primary reason why Bangladeshis wish to learn English is due to its perceived value for pursuing work abroad (Erling, Elizabeth J., Philip Seargeant, Mike Solly, Qumrul H Chowdhury, & Sayeedur Rahman. 2012. Attitudes to English as a language for international development in rural Bangladesh. London: British Council. Available online at http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/publications/attitudes-english-a-language-international-development-rural-bangladesh.). The extent to which English is of value in economic migration, however, has been underexplored in research (Coleman, Hywel. 2010. The English language in development. London: British Council. Available at http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/publications/english-language-development.). Drawing on data from a qualitative study which provides new insights into the experiences and perceptions of a cohort of returnee migrants, this article investigates the perceived value of (English) language skills for migration. The study finds that economic migrants see the advantages of having particular skills, especially English, for economic gain. However, applying a capabilities lens to their narratives (Sen, Amartya. 1999. Development as freedom. Oxford: Oxford University Press.) reveals the difficulties of classifying their experiences in terms of “success” given the deeply embedded structural issues and challenges the participants report facing. This article therefore questions assumptions that language skills can be transformational when social inequality is (re)produced in the context of migration.

Effects of academic and non-academic instructional approaches on preschool English language learners’ classroom engagement and English language development

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 339-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivana Markova
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Development ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Free Play ◽  
English Language Development ◽  
Bilingual Children ◽  
Bilingual Students ◽  
Academic Activities ◽  
English Language Skills

This research compared the relative impact of different preschool activities on the development of bilingual students’ English-language skills. The study investigated whether bilingual preschool children would engage more, and use more of their second language (English), during free-play (non-academic) versus teacher-structured (academic) activities. The researcher utilized both quantitative and qualitative research approaches; data sources included 285 preschool observations made in three classrooms in Northern California. Data analysis consisted of descriptive statistics (e.g. frequencies/percentages, mean values, and standard deviations). In addition, children’s observed scores were also analyzed by normative scales using standardized z-scores. The findings of this study indicated that bilingual children engaged and interacted significantly more during free-play (non-academic) preschool classroom activities than during teacher-structured (academic) activities. Specific free-play activities enabling optimal engagement and second language acquisition were pretend play, free play, and monkey bars. The study’s major implication is that free-play (non-academic) activities may be much more helpful in developing bilingual preschoolers’ English-language skills than teacher-structured (academic) activities. Free-play activities are an affordance for making language available, which helps with building academic skills and cultural capital. This study proves that free-play activities are an affordance for language learning because bilingual children have shown dramatically greater engagement in non-academic activities (vs academic activities). The importance of free-play activities may extend beyond preschool classrooms (e.g. greater English-language development in early preschool may subsequently positively impact student performance in kindergarten). Thus, unstructured, social-based activities should be implemented for bilingual students in K-12 classrooms. Free-play (i.e. non-academic) activities should be implemented in preschool.

scholarly journals The Arts, the Common Core, and English Language Development in the Primary Grades

2017 ◽  
Vol 119 (8) ◽  
pp. 1-38
Author(s):  
Christa Mulker Greenfader ◽  
Liane Brouillette
Keyword(s):  
Language Development ◽  
Oral Language ◽  
English Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Development Program ◽  
English Language Development ◽  
Oral Language Skills ◽  
English Speaking

Background/Context Throughout schooling, English learners (ELs) perform well below their monolingual English-speaking peers on literacy assessments, and Hispanics make up the majority of EL students in the United States. There is a strong consensus about the importance of early English oral language skills for ELs’ literacy development, yet teachers are not adequately prepared to meet the needs of these young learners. Historically, policy has not provided incentives for educators to focus on oral language development in the classroom. However, the recently adopted Common Core State Standards (CCSS) emphasize oral language skills. Purpose/Objective This study examines a professional development program that equipped early elementary teachers in five urban schools with arts-based strategies to promote the oral English development of ELs. A second line of inquiry looked at the extent to which the creative drama and dance activities were aligned with CCSS. Participants There were 3,792 K–2 Hispanic ELs (treatment: N = 497; control: N = 3,295) from Title I schools in a large school district in California. Intervention The Teaching Artist Project (TAP) was a two-year K–2 arts and literacy professional development program consisting of 28 weekly 50-minute lessons (14 theater and 14 dance). The project provided classroom teachers with in-service training on utilizing movement, gesture, and expression to promote stimulating English verbal interactions. TAP was specifically intended to engage non-native English speakers in classroom dialogues, facilitating their oral English development. Research Design This study utilized a mixed methods design. To address the first research question, schools were randomly assigned to treatment and control groups. Multiple regressions were run on data from the California English Language Development Test (CELDT) to investigate the impact of the program on the English speaking abilities of K–2 Hispanic English learners. To address the second research question, document review was used to compare the K–2 CCSS speaking and listening standards and the TAP lesson plans. Findings The treatment group was found to significantly outperform the control group (β = 0.13; p < 0.05) on CELDT speaking scores. Additional review suggested that the performing arts activities corresponded well to the CCSS speaking and listening standards. Conclusions/Recommendations Creative drama and dance activities provide rich verbal classroom interactions, boost English oral language skills of ELs, and align with the CCSS. Yet concerns are raised about the lack of speaking assessments on tests created by the Smarter Balanced and PARCC consortiums and the potential subsequent distortion of K–2 instruction.

scholarly journals Language Development in Profoundly Deaf Children with Cochlear Implants

2000 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mario A. Svirsky ◽  
Amy M. Robbins ◽  
Karen Iler Kirk ◽  
David B. Pisoni ◽  
Richard T. Miyamoto
Keyword(s):  
Language Development ◽  
Cochlear Implants ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Individual Variability ◽  
Deaf Children ◽  
Linguistic System ◽  
Before And After ◽  
English Language Skills

Although cochlear implants improve the ability of profoundly deaf children to understand speech, critics claim that the published literature does not document even a single case of a child who has developed a linguistic system based on input from an implant. Thus, it is of clinical and scientific importance to determine whether cochlear implants facilitate the development of English language skills. The English language skills of prelingually deaf children with cochlear implants were measured before and after implantation. We found that the rate of language development after implantation exceeded that expected from unimplanted deaf children (p < .001) and was similar to that of children with normal hearing. Despite a large amount of individual variability, the best performers in the implanted group seem to be developing an oral linguistic system based largely on auditory input obtained from a cochlear implant.

PELATIHAN BAHASA INGGRIS BAGI MAHASISWA AKPARTA SURAKARTA

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 221-225
Author(s):  
Eka Susylowati ◽  
Ika Oktaria ◽  
Arini Hidayah ◽  
Yunita Widiyantari ◽  
Anik Astuti
Keyword(s):  
Research Methods ◽  
Community Service ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Language Competence ◽  
Service Activities ◽  
English Language Skills

This study aims to train English language skills for Akparta students to be proficient in English. The research methods used include presentations, lectures, observations and discussions. The results showed that the level of English mastery of the Surakarta Akparta students had progressed in speaking English. Community service activities carried out at Akparta Surakarta are helpful for students to improve their English language competence so that students can become professional tourism workers

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