THE BENEFITS OF LEARNING ANOTHER LANGUAGE

Continuing with children’s relationship with language, children learn “implicitly”, which means they are able to absorb have a substantial amount of knowledge of a language but are not consciously aware of it. Adults can possess a substantial amount of knowledge prior to developing any knowledge “that can be used with the same speed, accuracy, and spontaneity with which children use their implicit knowledge”. Teens and adults depend on analysis and working memory, whereas children utilize patterns in sound and short-term memory. Because of the fluidity in learning with children, those who learn more than one language before the age of 6 are more likely to become native speakers in all aspects of a language but the older children get the harder it becomes to be fluent in a language (DeKeyser 1). Timing and sequence heavily impact how a person learns a language, so much that researchers have discovered distinctions between kinds of multilingualism​. An example of different​ kinds of multilingualism ​can be informal and formal bilinguals. People who are “formal bilinguals” are people who learn a language in school or academic settings, where people who are informal bilinguals learn their languages outside of settings like schools, “imitating the natural processes of acquiring the mother tongue”. Another distinction in multilingualism is hyperpolyglots. Hyperpolyglots are multilingual people who are able to retain knowledge and learn languages at much faster rates than the average person. Their neurology is much different than most providing them the capabilities to learn several languages with ease. Research has shown that hyperpolyglots tend to be​ “males, left-handed and… take pleasure in pouring over grammar and vocabulary exercises that others might find tedious.”​ Hyperpolyglots also tend to use various methods to learn another language. These methods can range from being on online chat rooms where only one language is spoken, watching TV or listening to music in a language, reading a book in a language, and so much more. In the experience of one hyperpolyglot, “​I’ll probably go through anywhere between three to 15 hours of audio programs and then, after I’m relatively confident in terms of vocabulary, I’ll start reading and watching the news. I’ll read the BBC, I’ll go through English and then Arabic, Farsi, maybe Swahili or Indonesian. I’m guessing [foreign language] would be to make it legal. You know, once I’m really confident with a language, I can watch a movie without reading the subtitles [background talking] and also, I can feel a little bit less guilty about you know, watching [laugh] soap operas.”​ Hyperpolyglots provide great insight into how the brain functions when learning multiple languages. Their proficiency can open new doors in the way of learning. I’ll be finishing up this series next month, so please stay tuned! See you next month. Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books & Poems Business Community Education Entertainment español Food & Culture Health Interviews Military & Veterans Peace People Politics ALLOWING PEOPLE TO DISCOVER THE  PERSON I AM. July 29, 2020/No Comments ALLOWING PEOPLE TO DISCOVER THE  PERSON I AM. I’ve done a lot of reflecting over the course of the past Read More MENTAL ILLNESS IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY: A SUBJECT MATTER WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO IGNORE! February 28, 2020/No Comments MENTAL ILLNESS IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY: A SUBJECT MATTER WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO IGNORE! In our last article, we were Read More MENTAL ILLNESS IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY: A SUBJECT MATTER WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO IGNORE! September 29, 2019/No Comments MENTAL ILLNESS IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY: A SUBJECT MATTER WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO IGNORE! For this month, I would like Read More Load More End of Content.

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Manifest Diversity: A CULTURALLY & COMPETENT BUFFALO

As a multicultural educator, I present cultural diversity workshops examining cultures, music and languages from around the world.  I strongly believe in bringing people from all walks of life together. I strongly believe in educating people about the world and the diversity of it. And I strongly believe that we can learn from each other by engaging in a simple conversation, hence the solution to create understanding.  It is so important to be culturally competent in today’s world because we are encountering people from all walks of life. It takes time, patient and respect to understand someone who is different. It takes cultural awareness, cultural knowledge and cultural sensitivity to be culturally competent. But what does it mean to be culturally competent? Culturally competent means that you have the awareness, knowledge and sensitivity to be able to understand someone who is different from you. So instead of understanding who you are, you are able to understand who someone else is based on their values, beliefs, norms, customs, traditions, styles, biases, stereotypes, behaviors and so on.  You understand that they do things differently than you do. They eat different foods than you do, they cook different foods than you do, they walk, talk and act differently than you do. At the end of the day, you still respect them. That is what it means to be culturally competent. Someone who is not culturally competent discriminates, judges and looks at the differences of someone in a negative way. Their actions may label them a racist, a homophobic or someone who thinks they are morally, physically and intellectually superior than others. These are not traits that define someone who is culturally competent. No matter what color, race, creed or sexual orientation someone comes from, cultural competence teaching us to understand others who are different from us. So if you want to practice being culturally competent. Talk to someone who is different than you, learn about their differences without judging. Attend an event or a workshop in which you learn about people from around the world. Google things that you never would about someone. Get to know them and why they are the way they are. Establish some positive feedback of your own about meeting people. How do you say Hello in their language? How can you erase stereotypes and judgements from your heart? How can you be more open minded in a world that makes it hard to accept people who are different? I will be hosting more programs and events where we can learn about different types of people and how to interact, engage and treat people as human beings. For more information: checkout theeducationalpledge.com and email me at: manifestdiversity@gmail.com Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books & Poems Business Community Education Entertainment español Food & Culture Health Interviews Military & Veterans Peace People Politics THE NEED TO MANIFEST “MANIFEST DIVERSITY September 25, 2022/No Comments THE NEED TO MANIFEST “MANIFEST DIVERSITY With so many cultures, races, and ethnic groups from around the world, wouldn’t it Read More Manifest Destiny vs Diversity February 25, 2022/No Comments Manifest Destiny vs Diversity “Manifest Destiny: Manifest destiny was a widely held belief in the 19th-century United States that American Read More Manifest Diversity December 25, 2019/No Comments With so many cultures, races and ethnic groups from around the world, wouldn’t it be beneficial to work together instead Read More Load More End of Content.

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WE DID IT! CLIMATE JUSTICE PROTECTION ACT PASSED IN ALBANY

WE DID IT! CLIMATE JUSTICE PROTECTION ACT PASSED IN ALBANY New York is finally taking back its role as a leader of Cities to lead the Nation in putting Climate Justice issue back on the State and Nations mind’s eye. It will be one of the most ambitious climate goals, including reduction in Greenhouse gas emissions, the law will move the State economy off fossil fuels by 2050. However, there was a weakened version of prevailing wage passage as well as labor standards and the weakening of enforcement of the equity provision for frontline communities. We didn’t get the meteoric war wanted but there were concessions that we could live with rather than not having the passage of anything for another year. This is still a win for People Power and the organizing by more than 170 environmental agencies as well as community activist from across the state. This law gives the state 30 years to wean itself off fossil fuels and transition the state into a more regenerative economy where renewable reusable energy will leave little to know carbon footprint for ther nextt generation of our families. Though we must remember that climate scientist has said that we have 11 years to slow down the worst effects of climate change. We will l still see jobs in the conversion from fossil fuel to cleaner energy sources like solar, wind, geothermal. There are many folks to thank for this effort is not without a lot of organizing and coordinating so I’d like to thank members of the Senators and Assembly that supported the seriousness of this legislation and not so much those  elected leaders who were only convinced after Senator Chuck Schumer and Senator and Presidential hopeful, Kristin Gillibrand, put their seal of approval on it. And you Politicos know who you are as its on public record your delaying sponsorship. Shame, shame and shame on you all, knowing that your constituents wanted it, visited you in your offices in Albany and still you dragged your butts about it. Finally, I’d like to thank our local organizers and local friends at PUSH that helped support and spear head this legislation and its community members including like me in stepping up and out to speak at rallies, in front of the Senate and Assembly hearings and office. We All Did It!!! We proved that People and Planet come first and that there is no greater power than People Power!! Read More From This Writer All Post Business Culture Entertainment Food Government Health Interviews Lower West Side Business & Economic Development Medical Military & Veterans Our Community Peace People Sports WE DID IT! CLIMATE JUSTICE PROTECTION ACT PASSED IN ALBANY July 24, 2019/No Comments POST TITLE (CAPITAL) Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus Read More WEST SIDE GIRL GIVES NYC CLIMATE CHANGE TESTIMONY June 24, 2019/No Comments WEST SIDE GIRL GIVES NYC CLIMATE CHANGE TESTIMONY (A public testimony by PUSH member, Luz Velez, before the Assembly Standing Read More

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