I was a huge bookworm as a 5th grader, do not underestimate these innocent creatures 😁
I don't consume too much content meant for children, because quite often it involves super specific vocabulary (magic, fables, made-up words). My vocabulary usually revolves around my hobbies and daily life, so I like more realistic books! 😊
I also tend to steer clear from books (light novels) that have a lot of fantasy elements in them because the vocabulary isn't as useful and a bit frustrating to read. However, I find that Japanese childrens books, actually integrate the kanji and vocabulary taught at school so it's been really helpful. I'm also very much into magic realism! There are usually little made-up words there. 😁
I loved this. I feel like adults in general understimate and belittle children and children oriented products. It warms my heart to read this complexity being exalted. Of course it comes from a teacher hahahaha. There is no point in teaching if you don't respect your students, after all.
In portuguese, my native language, the transition from 4th to 5th grade was eactly as you said: learning material related to subjects increased a lot. I guess this also explains why I got to a point in english (as a second language) that I can use it well passively, even while I still struggle with output - because I just don't, honestly hahahaha-.
I could also reflect why I struggle so much with spanish (yep, it's very much ironic as a brazilian): I don't use it to learn! So that explains why over the years english got solidified in my brain and spanish kinda melted and sometimes morph itself with english and portuguese and I can't seem to be able to separate it. It's so damn frustrating!!! hahahahaha maybe I'll go back to it in a few years.
Anyway, I'm really enjoying your content. Thank you very much. <3
Thank you so much, Fabine! It was very interesting to learn your perspective as an English and Spanish learner. The intermediate hurl is definitely challenging, especially when you use it passively! As for me, I also tend to morph or substitute words from the languages I know whenever I find myself grasping.
Something that I wanted to add to the article but didn't know where to fit in is Hi Lo content (High Interest/Low Reading Level). It is reading material featuring shorter sentences and a basic vocabulary, while also appealing to older audiences through high-interest mature themes and characters. Maybe it will help whenever you decide to take on the challenge of separating Spanish with English. Thank you again for reading and commenting. :)
Working with school aged children who are developing their reading and writing skills really puts into perspective my own skills in my target languages.
A few weeks ago I read some of my grade 2s writing. It's so interesting how they make mistakes with spelling but I'm still able to read and understand what they were trying to write. I compare it to my own writing in TLs and I'm reminded that we all struggled when we first started writing but it's through mistakes that we learned and improved.
It's definitely all about failing forward! I'm doing an experiment on my students this year where they can retake speech tests as many times as they like within a given time period. As they study the rubric and make the necessary changes they think they need, they are improving dramatically. The perseverance that some of them have is inspiring, and I am definitely taking cues not to let silly (and natural) mistakes get the better of me.
I was a huge bookworm as a 5th grader, do not underestimate these innocent creatures 😁
I don't consume too much content meant for children, because quite often it involves super specific vocabulary (magic, fables, made-up words). My vocabulary usually revolves around my hobbies and daily life, so I like more realistic books! 😊
Thank you for your insights Shea sensei! 🙏
Never! I devoured books when I was a kid too! 😊
I also tend to steer clear from books (light novels) that have a lot of fantasy elements in them because the vocabulary isn't as useful and a bit frustrating to read. However, I find that Japanese childrens books, actually integrate the kanji and vocabulary taught at school so it's been really helpful. I'm also very much into magic realism! There are usually little made-up words there. 😁
I loved this. I feel like adults in general understimate and belittle children and children oriented products. It warms my heart to read this complexity being exalted. Of course it comes from a teacher hahahaha. There is no point in teaching if you don't respect your students, after all.
In portuguese, my native language, the transition from 4th to 5th grade was eactly as you said: learning material related to subjects increased a lot. I guess this also explains why I got to a point in english (as a second language) that I can use it well passively, even while I still struggle with output - because I just don't, honestly hahahaha-.
I could also reflect why I struggle so much with spanish (yep, it's very much ironic as a brazilian): I don't use it to learn! So that explains why over the years english got solidified in my brain and spanish kinda melted and sometimes morph itself with english and portuguese and I can't seem to be able to separate it. It's so damn frustrating!!! hahahahaha maybe I'll go back to it in a few years.
Anyway, I'm really enjoying your content. Thank you very much. <3
Thank you so much, Fabine! It was very interesting to learn your perspective as an English and Spanish learner. The intermediate hurl is definitely challenging, especially when you use it passively! As for me, I also tend to morph or substitute words from the languages I know whenever I find myself grasping.
Something that I wanted to add to the article but didn't know where to fit in is Hi Lo content (High Interest/Low Reading Level). It is reading material featuring shorter sentences and a basic vocabulary, while also appealing to older audiences through high-interest mature themes and characters. Maybe it will help whenever you decide to take on the challenge of separating Spanish with English. Thank you again for reading and commenting. :)
Very true! It's often teachers and people who work with children that notice children's abilities and development 🙂
Working with school aged children who are developing their reading and writing skills really puts into perspective my own skills in my target languages.
A few weeks ago I read some of my grade 2s writing. It's so interesting how they make mistakes with spelling but I'm still able to read and understand what they were trying to write. I compare it to my own writing in TLs and I'm reminded that we all struggled when we first started writing but it's through mistakes that we learned and improved.
It's definitely all about failing forward! I'm doing an experiment on my students this year where they can retake speech tests as many times as they like within a given time period. As they study the rubric and make the necessary changes they think they need, they are improving dramatically. The perseverance that some of them have is inspiring, and I am definitely taking cues not to let silly (and natural) mistakes get the better of me.