Languages - What are the benefits?

Consider this:
"In a study of 450 Alzheimer's patients, led by Ellen Bialystok, a psychology professor at York University in Toronto, those who were bilingual for most of their lives were able to stave off symptoms of Alzheimer's for four to five years longer than people who spoke only one language."

(Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2011/02/22/why-speaking-more-than-one-language-may-delay-alzheimers/#ixzz1aQVP3Q74)

And this:

"Lest bilingual folks start feeling too high and mighty, another new study involving 230 people found that the benefits to memory in elderly adults increased with the number of languages they spoke: those who spoke four or more languages were five times less likely to develop cognitive problems, compared with mere bilinguals. People who spoke three languages were three times less likely to have cognitive problems than people who spoke two."

 

Ever heard this joke?

 

What do you call someone who speaks three languages? Trilingual.
What do you call someone who speaks two languages? Bilingual.
What do you call someone who speaks one language?

American.

 

 

Watch the following video "Don't Insist on English!" (It is about 10 minutes and I will show it during Tutorial A on Wednesday and Tutorial B on Thursday)  Your assignment is then to post your thoughts on the video.  Do you agree with Patricia Ryan?  Do you think knowing more than one language is a good thing or bad things?  Do you think it is important to know more than one language?  Why or why not? Your blog entry should be reflective and demonstrate that you have watched the video and put some thought into this issue.  Let me know if you have any questions!

 

Blog #2

Hola a todos. This week's blog will focus on Spanish music and culture.  Your task is to find a Spanish song and post a link to the video (YouTube is a great source or the artist's website).  Along with posting the video you must include the lyrics to the song and tell what you think the song is talking about.  Here are some examples of a few of my favorite artists: Juanes, Shakira, Enrique Iglesias, David Bisbal, Juan Luis Guerra, and Luis Fonsi.  Remember to keep your song appropriate for school! This blog is due Friday, el 23 de septiembre.

U1E1Blog #1

 For our first blog assignment you will write 7 sentences in Spanish describing the following:

• Your name
• Where you live
• Where you are from
• What you like to do
• What you do not like to do

All of the vocabulary you will need is from Etapa Preliminar and Unidad I, Etapa I. If you have any questions please let me know. ¡OJO! Do NOT use a translator for this assignment.  If you need a certain word then of course it is fine but not for your entire 7 sentences.  I will be able to tell if you did.  Please come see me if you have any questions.  ¡Buena Suerte!