Chapter 8
Review
the key points in Chapter 8 "Key Points in this
Chapter" pg. 180
Choose
one key theory and summaries : "The Thresholds Theory" or
"The Balance Theory"
Theories
respond to new discoveries and science findings. The historical development of ideas about
bilingualism, particularly about how language may operate in the brain (Backer
& Wright, 2017, p 157) is related to teaching strategies and learning
activities for improving languages usages and abilities. All theories are
exposed to be denied by new ideas and ideological positions. The importance of
bilingualism theories is rooted in the fact that they may lead to newer
instructional and assessments bilingualism and cognitive functioning.
The
Balance Theory establishes that in bilingualism two languages exist together in
balance. If the proficiency of one language increases on one side, the
proficiency of the other language on the other side of the balance decreases. This
theory suggests that our cognitive process allows just one language which is
not quite true. Although the Balance Theory may seem logical, it is not
psychologically valid. In fact, bilingual education, for example, appears to
result in performance advantage compared with submersion in a monolingual
education. It is not acceptable to assume that our brain can’t hold more than
one language. As we know our brain has a capacity not only for two languages,
but many languages.
The
Common Underlying Proficiency (CPU) model of bilingualism sets that in
bilingualism, two languages are visible different in their usages, however,
these languages do not work independently, because both languages are in the
same processing system. According to this model, not only bilingualism, also
multilingualism may be stored in our brain.
The
Threshold Theory relates cognition and degree of bilingualism. According to
this theory the relationship of cognition and bilingualism has two levels.
These levels or thresholds are levels of languages competence that has
consequences on bilinguals. The first threshold is a level to avoid the
negative consequences of bilingualism. The second threshold is a level required
to experience positive benefits of bilingualism. The Threshold Theory is
related to cognition and education.
Reference
Baker,
C.,& Wright, W. E. (2017). Foundation
of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism. Pennsylvania: Multilingual
Matters.
