Language Learners

Thinking of children as "language learners" is much more in-depth than I had realized. After reading Children's Language by Judith Wells Lindfors I began to truly understand the complexity of the overlooked task of learning a language. Lindfors discusses how by kindergarten, children have already had their own language experience. She refers to the child as an "observer" as well as a "participant." These children have watched and listen to everyone around them communicate with each other, and they have learned to mimic this to the best of their ability. This, though most believe to be a child's only connection with language at this point, is not. Children can learn language through written text as well as through pictures. This helps to solidify the importance of literacy in children of all ages. Even these picture books can make a huge advance in these kids' language development. I have seen this to be true when working with children as young as two-years-old. Even conversations that parents have with their children when they are babies can stay with the children's language throughout their years of learning.


"Every child is born with universal linguistic structures wired in the mind/brain." (Lindfors pg 9)