HUmans as a species take language for granted. Language is constantly around us and we use it all day every day in our lives. I feel that students need to be aware of this and appreciate it. They need to see what a beautiful and complex thing language is, and not just something that they have to learn in class.
A quote on page 157 states "We are seeking to light fires of curiosity about the central human characteristics of language which will blaze throughout our pupils' lives". This spoke volumes to me and rekindled my own personal flame within myself for my passion of language. When I first started learning Spanish in middle school, I enjoyed it, but I didn't understand the beauty of it. I didn't appreciate how learning a second language was not just a grade on a report card, but the door to the experiences and understanding of another culture, people, way of living, a language. I did not light this flaming passion until high school, and from then on it has soared. As a future educator, I Know how crucial it is to ensure that students do not wait until high school to be aware of language. If students realized the potential of a language the way that I did, only at a younger age, imagine the possibilities. If out students were exposed to the integration of language and curriculum, it is an adrenaline rush to imagine how their own personal critical thinking skills, participation, desire for learning, everything would grow. Students need to have that awareness of a language in a general and critical sense so that tehy can realize where they stand and learn to question, challenge, learn, and explore. And isn't that what we want for our students: for them to have that fire of curiosity and the desire to learn more.
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