Hi Happy!
I really appreciate how you talked about questioning your beliefs from these readings. Throughout the semester, the concept of translanguaging has really challenged my belief that named languages can be placed into neat little boxes and that they exist as completely separate systems in our brains. Even knowing what I do now about translanguaging, I still catch myself using phrases that suggest that bilingual students completely separate their languages in their head instead of drawing from one cohesive linguistic repertoire. For example, during class, I heard myself saying the phrase “both languages” when referring to a student’s use of Spanish and English at my field placement, implying that the languages can be neatly separated. Even though I know this isn’t true, especially after seeing students at my placement use Spanish and English in flexible, dynamic ways. I have heard this idea that bilinguals have two (or more) autonomous languages in their heads so much that it still pops up in my thinking. This really highlights how deeply entrenched our language ideologies can be and reminds me how important it is to continuously reflect on my own beliefs about language, even those that are not conscious.
I really appreciate how you talked about questioning your beliefs from these readings. Throughout the semester, the concept of translanguaging has really challenged my belief that named languages can be placed into neat little boxes and that they exist as completely separate systems in our brains. Even knowing what I do now about translanguaging, I still catch myself using phrases that suggest that bilingual students completely separate their languages in their head instead of drawing from one cohesive linguistic repertoire. For example, during class, I heard myself saying the phrase “both languages” when referring to a student’s use of Spanish and English at my field placement, implying that the languages can be neatly separated. Even though I know this isn’t true, especially after seeing students at my placement use Spanish and English in flexible, dynamic ways. I have heard this idea that bilinguals have two (or more) autonomous languages in their heads so much that it still pops up in my thinking. This really highlights how deeply entrenched our language ideologies can be and reminds me how important it is to continuously reflect on my own beliefs about language, even those that are not conscious.