Re-establishing Social Interaction with Peers

From the comfort of your house attend a great online training

“Boosting Peer Play: How to Support Interactions in Early Childhood Settings” By The Hanen Centre 

I hope you like the course as much as I do.

Check the link https://www.hanen.org/Professional-Development/Online-Training/BPP.aspx

This is a course overview you can find at The Hanen Center web:

“From the age of three, children in early childhood settings begin to interact more with their peers than they do with their educators. This means that much of their cognitive, language, and social skills learning happens during peer interaction. They get to practice taking turns in conversation, using their vocabulary, negotiating, collaborating, sharing, and problem-solving.

But what about the children who tend to play alone or watch from the sidelines? Children who are frequently left out of interactions miss important opportunities to practice their developing skills, build their confidence, and make friends.

Whether you work directly with children in early childhood settings or consult educators who work in those settings, you will come away from this e-seminar with evidence-based ideas to:

Encourage and support peer interaction by making strategic changes in classroom set-up and using specific interaction techniques.

Raise the profile of children who are more isolated so that they are more likely to be included in interactions.

Become more intentional and strategic in the way you support peer play in order to make the biggest difference for all children.”

The Concept of “Speech Flowers” in Speech Therapy

 

"Speech Flowers" isn’t a widely recognized term in traditional speech therapy literature, but it evokes an intriguing metaphor that can be creatively applied to the practice of speech therapy. Imagine each aspect of a child's communication skills as a flower in a garden. Just as flowers need nurturing to bloom, children’s speech and language abilities require care, attention, and the right environment to flourish. Here’s how the “Speech Flowers” concept can be used in speech therapy to symbolize the growth and nurturing of communication skills.

1. Nurturing the “Roots” of Communication

Before a flower can bloom, it needs strong roots, just as foundational language skills are crucial for effective communication. In speech therapy, this could mean focusing on the basics—phonemic awareness, vocabulary development, and sentence structure.

• Example: When working with a child on articulation, the "roots" might involve exercises that strengthen oral motor skills, much like watering and nourishing the soil. For instance, using tools like “The Oral-Motor Exercises for Speech Clarity” by Debra C. Lowsky can help establish these foundational skills.
• Reference: “Speech Sound Disorders: Resource Guide for Preschool Children” by Rhea Paul provides activities that can be considered as laying the "roots" of speech development.

2. Growing the “Stems” of Confidence and Fluency

The stem of a flower supports its growth, just as confidence and fluency support a child’s ability to communicate effectively. In speech therapy, building a child’s confidence is akin to strengthening the stem, helping them to use their voice with clarity and assurance.

• Example: A therapist might use the concept of "Speech Flowers" by introducing exercises that focus on fluency and reducing speech anxiety. For example, practicing structured conversation in a safe, encouraging environment helps children feel more confident, much like a strong stem supporting a blossoming flower.
• Reference: “Stuttering Intervention: A Collaborative Journey to Fluency Freedom” by J. Scott Yaruss and Nina Reardon-Reeves offers strategies to strengthen these “stems” of fluency.

3. Blooming the “Petals” of Expressive Language

The petals of a flower are its most visible and beautiful part, just as a child’s expressive language is the most apparent aspect of their communication. In therapy, this could involve nurturing the child’s ability to express thoughts, ideas, and emotions effectively.

• Example: The petals of a "Speech Flower" might represent a child's ability to use complex sentences, metaphors, and storytelling in their speech. Therapists can encourage this through creative storytelling exercises or using visual aids that represent different petals for different types of expressive language.
• Reference: “Expanding Expression: Writing Tools for ELLs and Struggling Writers” by Sara K. Paul provides activities that could be seen as nurturing these expressive “petals.”

4. Spreading the “Pollen” of Social Communication

The pollen of a flower spreads to create new growth, just as social communication skills spread and develop through interaction with others. In speech therapy, this could symbolize the child’s ability to use language in social contexts, understand social cues, and engage in conversations.

• Example: Group therapy sessions where children practice turn-taking, eye contact, and responding to peers can be seen as spreading the "pollen" of their social communication skills.
• Reference: “Social Thinking and Me” by Michelle Garcia Winner is a resource that focuses on developing these social communication skills, essential for spreading the "pollen" of interaction.

5. Cultivating the “Garden” of Overall Communication

A garden is diverse, with different types of flowers representing various speech and language skills—articulation, comprehension, social language, and more. The therapist's role is to cultivate this garden, ensuring that all these “Speech Flowers” bloom harmoniously.

• Example: A comprehensive speech therapy plan might involve a mix of individual and group sessions, home practice, and school collaboration, much like a well-tended garden requires various tools and methods to thrive.
• Reference: “The Speech Language Pathologist’s Handbook for Inclusive School Practices” by Julie Causton and Chelsea Tracy-Bronson offers guidance on creating a supportive environment where all aspects of a child’s communication can flourish.

Conclusion: The “Speech Flowers” Metaphor in Practice

The “Speech Flowers” metaphor offers a creative, holistic approach to speech therapy, emphasizing the nurturing of all aspects of a child’s communication skills. From the roots of foundational language to the blooming of expressive language and the spreading of social communication, each component is vital for the overall growth of a child’s communication abilities. By viewing speech therapy as a garden where each skill is a flower that needs care and attention, therapists can create a more engaging, effective, and supportive environment for children to thrive in their communication journey.

The Power of Immersion: How a Month in Beijing Transformed a 16-Year-Old's Mandarin Skills

Language learning is a journey often marked by challenges and breakthroughs. For many learners, the ultimate test - and reward - comes through immersion in the language's native environment. Take, for example, a 16-year-old girl named Basia from New York City, who has been learning Mandarin for five years. Despite her dedication, textbooks, and classroom exercises could only take her so far. To truly master Mandarin, she needed to experience the language in its natural context. That opportunity came when she traveled to Beijing for a month-long language course, an experience that profoundly transformed her linguistic abilities.

1. Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Practice

Before her trip to Beijing, Basia’s Mandarin education was primarily classroom-based. She could read, write, and speak the language to a certain degree, but these skills were largely theoretical - confined to the structured environment of a classroom where conversation partners were also non-native speakers. The trip to Beijing forced her to apply these skills in real-life situations, from ordering food in bustling street markets to asking for directions in the subway.

This immersion bridged the gap between theory and practice. For example, Basia might have learned the vocabulary for various foods and phrases for ordering in a restaurant back home, but in Beijing, she had to navigate menus filled with unfamiliar characters and interact with waitstaff who spoke rapidly and used colloquial expressions. This real-world application honed her language skills far beyond what was possible in a traditional classroom setting.

2. Enhancing Listening and Comprehension Skills

One of the most significant challenges in language learning is developing the ability to understand native speakers' rapid, nuanced speech. In Beijing, Basia was surrounded by Mandarin 24/7. The sounds of the language permeated every aspect of her day, from the chatter of passersby to the announcements in the subway.

This constant exposure dramatically improved her listening and comprehension skills. She began to pick up on the natural rhythm and intonation of the language, recognizing common phrases and idioms that she had only encountered in textbooks. For instance, she quickly became familiar with the Beijing dialect's unique characteristics, such as the rhotacization of certain syllables (a phenomenon known as “儿化音”), which gave her a deeper understanding of regional variations in Mandarin.

3. Building Confidence Through Cultural Immersion

Beyond the linguistic benefits, immersion in Beijing’s culture played a crucial role in boosting Basia’s confidence. Language is not just about words; it’s deeply intertwined with culture. By engaging in daily life in Beijing, Basia learned cultural norms, humor, and etiquette that are vital for effective communication.

For example, while visiting a traditional tea house, Basia learned how to properly engage in tea etiquette - a subtle but important aspect of Chinese culture. These cultural experiences provided context for her language learning, making her more comfortable and confident in using Mandarin in diverse settings. When she returned home, she found herself thinking in Mandarin, a sign that her language skills had become more deeply ingrained.

4. Accelerating Vocabulary and Fluency Through Interaction

One of the most compelling aspects of language immersion is the rapid expansion of vocabulary and fluency that comes from constant interaction with native speakers. In Beijing, Basia had countless opportunities to practice her Mandarin with locals - whether negotiating prices in markets, chatting with fellow students, or participating in class discussions.

These interactions introduced her to a wide range of vocabulary that was far more practical and varied than what she had learned in her textbooks. For example, she learned street slang, expressions of politeness, and the specific terms used in local cuisine, all of which enriched her linguistic repertoire. The necessity of speaking Mandarin daily accelerated her fluency, as she had to think quickly and respond in real-time conversations.

5. Developing a Global Perspective

Finally, immersion in a new language environment does more than improve language skills; it broadens horizons and fosters a global perspective. For Basia, spending a month in Beijing opened her eyes to the intricacies of Chinese culture, history, and daily life. This experience deepened her appreciation for the language and its cultural context, making her a more empathetic and globally-minded individual.

She gained insights into the differences and similarities between Chinese and American cultures, understanding how language shapes worldviews and social interactions. This broadened perspective enhanced her language learning and contributed to her personal growth, making her more adaptable, curious, and open to new experiences.

Conclusion: The Transformative Power of Immersion

Basia’s month in Beijing was more than just a language course; it was a transformative experience that took her Mandarin skills to a new level. The immersion environment allowed her to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world application, enhanced her listening and comprehension skills, and built her confidence through cultural immersion. It accelerated her vocabulary and fluency through constant interaction and helped her develop a global perspective that would benefit her in all aspects of life.

For language learners, immersion in a native environment like Basia’s experience in Beijing is not just beneficial—it’s essential. It’s where the language comes alive, where the theoretical turns practical, and where learners truly begin to master the foreign language they’ve been studying. Basia’s journey underscores the profound impact that immersion can have on language acquisition, making it a key strategy for anyone serious about learning a new language.

How Critical Is the Critical Period for Language

A new study performed at MIT suggests that children remain very skilled at learning the grammar of a new language much longer than expected — up to the age of 17 or 18. People who start learning a language between 10 and 18 will still learn quickly, but since they have a shorter window before their learning ability declines, they do not achieve the proficiency of native speakers, the researchers found.

https://news.mit.edu/2018/cognitive-scientists-define-critical-period-learning-language-0501