Children begin acquiring language at birth. In standardized language tests, international adoptees often score below their peers who match in socioeconomic status. International adoptees’ brains process their native adoptive language similarly to second-language speakers. Linguistic development is heavily tied to general child development, making early experiences crucial. What Teachers Can Do: Provide additional linguistic support for international adoptees. Continue to read the latest research regarding linguistic development. Don’t assume international adoptees are second-language Speakers. Provide a multicultural standpoint. International adoptees are often stigmatized. Identity development continues into adolescence. Identity building begins in early childhood. International adoptees struggle with their ‘opposing’...
See More ->International adoptees, or IAs for short, are typically children, adopted from a nation different from their adoptive parent(s). Depending on the age of adoption, IAs can experience assimilation, enculturation, and socialization fairly quickly, not showing obvious differences from their non-adopted peers. However, as we will discuss, IAs can experience difficulties, depending on a multitude of factors.
Having begun language acquisition at birth, international adoptees are an interesting demographic. Although they resemble monolinguals, the initial exposure to their first-first language becomes obsolete once the primary language of their adoptive country becomes ever so present. This delayed exposure to an international...
See More ->Although B and I celebrate similar holidays in our cultures, there is a division of importance placed on these events. B’s culture in Ecuador places a large emphasis on religiosity, especially in ceremonious holidays or celebrations like Holy Week (Semana Santa) or Confirmation (Conformación). While many of my home traditions can be traced back to either Pagan or Christian ceremonies, this importance is largely erased, with commercialized versions of these traditions taking hold as replacements. This may be attributed to a combination of high economic development and liberalization that often leads to a more secular, religiously diverse, and economically free...
See More ->I was able to interview a college student in Ecuador, who I’ll call B, that I met while she was a foreign exchange student in Orem, UT in 2015. I video chatted in English with her and we spent more than 45 minutes talking about her culture. She describes her culture in Ecuador as being unique because of its “four worlds in one small country”. These “worlds” include the Amazon, the Sierras, the Coast, and the Galápagos Islands. B says the Ecuadorian Spanish dialect, especially among young people, is particularly unique. However, she views her Spanish as not “correct”, but...
See More ->To put in the simplest language possible, my cultural identity can be summed up as White European-American. I use that specific phrase to avoid the complexities of individualism due to the fact that in American society, it seems that racial/ethnic identity is the most significant identifier of persons. As a White European-American, the cultural celebrations and traditions that I adhere to are federally recognized or largely commercialized versions of old Christian and Pagan holidays: Christmas, Halloween, Easter, New Years, etc. Although the significance of these holidays were once contextualized as highly religious and ceremonious, my family and I observe...
See More ->Long, long ago, there lived in the province of Shinshin in Japan, a traveling monkey-man, who earned his living by taking round a monkey and showing off the animal’s tricks. One evening the man came home in a very bad temper and told his wife to send for the butcher the next morning. The wife was very bewildered and asked her husband: “Why do you wish me to send for the butcher?” “It’s no use taking that monkey round any longer, he’s too old and forgets his tricks. I beat him with my stick all I know how, but he...
See More ->Help Me Find My Dog! ENZO Also responds to: “Bubblegum”, “Pumpkin”, “Nasty Boy”, “Freak”, “Demon’, “Cutie Pie”, “What-is-wrong-with-you”, and “Stop-eating-sticks”. Last Seen: Eating Grass at the Park | Contact: Me | Reward: A Firm Handshake | Additional Information: Enzo is four months old, not the smartest thing in the world, and STILL BITES. He may appear cute and playful, but his teeth are sharp enough TO KILL. PROCEED WITH CAUTION | Come home!
See More ->All across America, students who have recently graduated from high school are packing their bags and enrolling in college. Some may join student government, some may take part in a club, others may devote all their time to studying instead. However, the majority of these students will come to meet a common element during their college experience: alcohol on campus. At first, I was inspired to take on the topic of opioid use in the country after seeing a billboard off of the highway about the topic. But because of my lack of knowledge and understanding of the threats presented...
See More ->In Tim Urban’s 2016 Ted Talk, “Inside the mind of a master procrastinator”, he explains his personal understanding of the procrastination cycle. According to Urban, non-procrastinators and procrastinators don’t differ much from each other. Their brains control thinking normally and makes decisions rationally, however, procrastinators have an additional function which Urban names the “Instant Gratification Monkey”. Urban explains that this “Monkey” serves as the distractions from all important work, leaving essential decision making on a completely opposite side of thought. Procrastinator’s brains always find a way to distract them from the important tasks at hand, leaving projects to the last...
See More ->Children are moldable creatures. We learn most of our essential skills before and in the beginnings of schooling. How to eat, how to walk, how to talk, how to read, etc. After, we learn how to learn. Knowledge is given to us in ways that we are educationally fed. But one topic in particular is not focused on in elementary academia. Sociology. Now, I’m not speaking of complex research hypotheses on the functioning of society itself. I’m talking about the basics of social groups. Why groups of people are groups of people, whether that be by gender, race, political belief...
See More ->“Great job, Jordan. You made my mom cry.” Almost every weekend, I had the opportunity to go see my sister, her husband, their dog, and their four beautiful children in Ivins, Utah. I stuffed my mouth full of the savory and sweet my sister prepared for us, I attended their place of worship here and there, I chatted endlessly to the adults and I played football endlessly with the kids. Those moments were more than enjoyable. They were comforting. My main purpose in going to Dixie State University for school was to be with my family and I met that...
See More ->My mom gave me two options a half year ago, either I go to Utah Valley University in Orem, or Dixie State in St. George for college. I chose Dixie without much hesitation. I thought it would be nice to be with family and away from the parents so I applied, packed my bags, and travelled through a literal snowstorm to reach my destination. However, I didn't really think my living situation through. Although it was an absolute pleasure to stay with my grandmother in Hurricane, it was a huge change and a challenge, mostly from my choice to attend...
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