First I read a German Poetry book. I looked for words that looks similar to English, a language I already know. So, I used cognates to make meaning. I found some words that made sense, but I was really not sure. I began to get a headache by just trying to read something that was really not making sense. Then, I decided to look at the English translation beside it. I was quite pleased to read and make meaning in English. Then, I went back to the German poem and tried to read it again to see if it was easier to make meaning. I felt it was a little easier to make meaning.
As a lower text, I chose a picture book in Japanese. The title was Hansel and Gretal. The book had the English title and the Japanese title. I could understand this whole book by just looking at the pictures. How awesome! I couldn't read anything because I don't know any of the Japanese characters or their sounds.
It would have been easier to have a character sound chart with an English Japanese dictionary to read and make meaning.
Salome, isn't this a great activity? I know you have experience with language but it reminds us how difficult it can be? What implications do you see as a teacher? What strategies will you use with your kindies?
ReplyDeleteDonna