Running Head: Power of Language

Power of Language

Marsha Nguyen

ENGL 420 Principles of Language

Professor Crystal Gentry

23 April 2023
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The study of language is crucial aspect in preparing students for 21st century citizenship.

As globalization and technological advances continue to shape our world, language proficiency

has become an increasingly valuable skill for fostering intercultural communication and

promoting understanding across diverse cultures which is essential for navigating the

complexities of the modern world. How can we prepare our students for 21st-century citizenship?

Language is a complex subject that consists of writing, reading, and vocalization. In order to

communicate with the world around us, it is vital that students acquire early language skills that

will carry them throughout their lives. By teaching students, the fundamentals of language while

understanding how they acquire language through strategies that have ethical and spiritual

implications to help students gain the necessary language skills to navigate an ever-changing and

complex world.

Language study is an essential skill for well-educated children of the future, and research

has demonstrated its numerous benefits. According to Szczegielniak (n.d.), Linguistics scholars

consider language as a cultural, social, and psychological phenomenon. How we acquire

language is through our culture upbringing by someone speaking the language (Yule 2022, pp.

18). In fact, there is theoretical process of language which consists of five main components:

phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics. Each of these are a fundamental part

of how students learn to use language in everyday life. Phonology focuses on the sound the

words make from the production and perception of sound (phonetics) and the context of sound

when reading (phonics). Students learn morphology by the meaning of words which focuses on

how the words are formed by using roots, bases, and affixes such as prefixes and suffixes. Where

as in syntax or grammar they learn how the order of the words are structured in a sentence. In

fact, syntax is known as one of the most difficult parts of learning English. Furthermore, students
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learn that semantics refers to the meaning of the words, sentences, or text. Lastly, students learn

pragmatics by how they language socially with others which is often combined with semantics

since it takes the meaning of the words and combines it with emotions and context. Making

pragmatics is an essential skill to have when communicating with others.

How can students apply this knowledge to learning a second language? According to Yule

(2022, pp. 230), the critical period for language acquisition to acquire another language fully

before puberty. In fact, “Literacy development in one language supports literacy development in

the second or subsequent languages learned. Knowledge and skills from a learner’s first language

are used and reinforced, deepened, and expanded upon when a learner is engaged in second

language literacy tasks (ACTFL n.d.).” It allows students the ability to communicate with others

from diverse cultures. Studies have shown that learning a second language has enhanced cultural

sensitivity and empathy towards diverse communities (ACTFL n.d.). Students who learn a

second language use a variety of strategies they acquired in their first language to construct

meaning in the other language. Such as top-down strategy which allows them to understand what

they heard, read, or viewed by using context clues and background knowledge to figure out the

meaning. Whereas in bottom-up strategies, students discriminate between sounds and letters,

recognizing word-order patterns, sentence structure, etc. to decipher the meaning (ACTFL n.d.).

Teachers have a moral imperative to help students develop literacy. According to Judith

Langer, literacy is more than the ability to read and write. It is a fundamental right that allows

individuals to engage fully in society. Teachers need to create learning environments that will

foster literacy development as well as cultural awareness. Teaching language proficiency is not

just about vocabulary and grammar rules, it is about understanding how language conveys

meaning and expresses ideas, beliefs, and values. Which is why it is crucial that teaching
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strategies in language learning involves real-life situations and experiences. This can be achieved

by including immersion programs, language exchanges, technology-assisted language learning,

etc. by providing opportunities for reading, writing, and discussion within the classroom. To

show students how to develop a love for reading and learning by the passion in their teaching.

As a future educator, I understand the importance of developing literacy in my students

and will prioritize language study as a critical component of my curriculum by creating a

language-rich learning environment that supports students’ linguistic and cultural diversity.

Teach them the importance of studying language is so that we can communicate and interact with

others, and by learning how to master the complex system of words, structure and grammar. I

would use a variety of teaching methods such as cooperative learning, project-based learning,

technology, and experiential learning to engage my students in language activities. Some literacy

activities and programs I would utilize would be Footsteps2brilliance, word scavenger hunts,

fishing for phonics, Starfall, IXL, etc. The study of language also has ethical and spiritual

implication that extend beyond its practical benefits. It allows us to understand and appreciate

different worldviews by prioritizing language study in cultural diversities that will promote a

sense of global citizenship and society. Language helps us to express ourselves emotionally, ask

questions, express our feelings, and helps us understand the world around us and different

cultures.

When it comes to preparing students for the 21st century citizenship, language study plays

a critical role. It is our moral imperative to help students develop literacy and cultural

competency, by providing them with the necessary skills to navigate the complexities of the

modern world. We can help prepare our students to be a diverse and interconnected society in
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promoting a sense of global citizenship and emphasizing the ethical and spiritual implications of

language study.
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References:

Benefits of language learning. ACTFL. (n.d.). Retrieved April 20, 2023, from

https://www.actfl.org/educator-resources/guiding-principles-for-language-

learning/benefits-of-language-learning

Literacy in language learning. ACTFL. (n.d.). Retrieved April 20, 2023, from

https://www.actfl.org/educator-resources/guiding-principles-for-language-learning/literacy-

language-learning

Szczegielniak, A. (n.d.). Language acquisition. Retrieved April 20, 2023, from

https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/adam/files/language_acquisition.ppt.pdf

Yule, G. (2022). The Study of Language (8th ed.). Cambridge University Press.

https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/books/9781009233392