Introduction
Description: A web quest about the reasons why people loss or decide not to speak a language any more.
Grade level: 12th
Curriculum: Communication (Speech)
Author: Tania Perez
It’s estimated that up to 7,000 different languages are spoken around the world. 90% of these languages are used by less than 100,000 people. Over a million people converse in 150-200 languages and 46 languages have just a single speaker!
Task
You will interview three family members to acquire knowledge of family history of language.
You will create and examine a family tree.
You will write in a two-page essay your findings and reflection about the language that you kept, and why?
Process
To individually interview three family members, if possible from three generations, if not just interview them to find out their experiences with language.
It is important that you ask:
Does my relative speak other languages? Why?
DO they think is important to speak more than one language, why?
After you interviews, Create your family tree to present to the classroom
At this time you will submit your two page reflection paper on language.
Keep in mind other factors such as
Did the family migrated to this county?
Who was the first one?
Do they speak English?
DO they think is important.
Ask questions about culture and any their feelings towards it
Evaluation
Students will be graded individually for competition of the three assignments.
Interviews
Family Tree
Reflective Essay
There will be a grade for presenting to the class as well.
Conclusion
I hope that you have a better understanding now of why your family, and you speak the language(s) that you do. At some point in your generation before you, someone adopted the language, or decided to stop speaking it (language loss). The reasons vary I hope that this activity lets you understand the significance of language and the huge role it plays in communicating with others.
I want you to know the history of your family language, so you are aware that at some point someone in your family lost, or adopted the language that the family speaks.
Also I want to emphasize that many people are in the process of adopting a new language, Let’s be patient and helpful to them