According to Ethnologue(opens in new tab), this is the number of living languages as of 2024 (Eberhard et al., 2024a). Does this number surprise you? It can be amazing to realize that there are over 7000 ways
I honestly didn’t realize there were that many languages or different ways to talk to one another. this stat is really interesting
The way heritage speakers use their heritage languages can look different from the way "native" speakers of the language use it
this is something ive seen in person where people who grew up around a language at home speak it a little differently than people who use it everywhere. It doesn’t seem like they’re worse at it at all, it’s just shaped by how and where they learned it.
These processes of privileging majoritized over minoritized varieties in education can be seen in second language classrooms too
I never really thought about it, but it is kind of interesting that we only learn one version of a language in school, especially in lower grades when there are so many others that people actually use every day. It makes me think that what we’re taught isn’t really about what’s most useful, but more about what’s been seen as important
In modern linguistics, it is widely accepted that all human languages are equally sophisticated systems of communication. However, in many people’s subjective viewpoints some languages are more equal than others(opens in new tab)
Even though all languages are equally complex, I think how people judge them really depends on what language they grow up speaking. If you’re born into a certain language, it would feel more natural or “better” to you, so other languages might seem less important even though they’re not.
“The aim is for students to be able to translate with ease between two languages, usually their first or native language (L1) and the target language (L2) being learned” (Prokopchuk, 2022, Grammar Translation Method, para.
This one feels more focused on a more traditional way of learning language. I can understand how that could help a little, but I think there is definitely a more efficient way to learn
This essentially means that according to a constructivist approach, the social environment in which learning occurs is quintessential to forming a learner’s knowledge.
This part made me think about how much the vibe of learning in more of a classroom setting is important. It’s not just about sitting there and taking in info on your own, because realistically not everyone is able to do that.
There are many different learning theories, but let’s talk about three very influential ones: behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism. Y
This feels like it’s setting up the main ways people understand learning. instead of there being just one “right” way to learn, there are different theories that explain it from different angles. It makes me think learning is more complex than it seems, and these are like the main perspectives to understand it.
How did we learn our first language growing up?
I like how this brings it back to real life. It kinda reminds me that we didnt learn language in a super formal way we just picked it up by being around it and using it. The example of Québec makes it feel relatable too like even just hearing a language in everyday situations can help you start learning without even trying that hard.
When you were a kid, you probably asked your parents this question at some point about things you were told to do, and you probably got answers varying from “Because I said so” to “Remember, if you finish up soon, you’ll have time to play”. These responses serve as motivation for you to do that thing; one is an order and the other is a promise.
This kinda made me think about how different types of motivation feel. Like when someone just tells you to do something because they said so, it just feels forced and you don’t really want to do it. But when there’s something in it for you or it benefits you in some way, it actually makes you want to do it. It shows how the way something is said can totally change your attitude toward it.
Fixed mindsets can take over our learning when we become attached to a score or result such as a grade.
l connect to that because i’ve definitely seen for myself how easy it is to shut down after a bad grade and just stop trying, But this is kind of pushing back on that, saying that moment is actually where you decide what happens next. You can either stay stuck in that mindset or use it to figure out what you need to improve. I like the idea that it’s not about being naturally smart, it’s more about what you do after things don’t go your way.
It is important to note that language ideologies do not always have negative impacts.
I like how this shifts things in a more positive direction. It kinda reminds me that the way we think about language actually matters, like if we value different languages instead of judging them, it can make people feel more accepted.
It is important to note that language ideologies do not always have negative impacts.
This is saying that even though language ideologies can cause problems sometimes, they’re not always bad. They can also have positive effects depending on the situation.
What if someone told you that you couldn’t pick up a paintbrush unless you were already a great artist? What if someone said you could only swim in the pool if you were an Olympic-level swimmer? Or that you couldn’t make pasta in the kitchen because you’re not yet a 5-star chef? You would immediately know that such high standards are ridiculous. Then why do many of us have such fear of learning languages ‘imperfectly’?
I like how this is pointing out how unfair our expectations are when it comes to learning languages because I used to think about it all the time. Like we're okay being beginners at things like sports or cooking, but with language we expect ourselves to be good right away. It’s kind of calling out that mindset and saying it doesn’t really make sense.