common core glossaries a multi-lingual approach

COMMON CORE GLOSSARIESA MULTI-LINGUAL APPROACH

“Multi-Lingual Glossaries” is a faculty-led and student-involved project to develop a series of common core glossaries that explain essential concepts and terms, in more than one language. The central purpose is to foreground and reinforce the intellectual content of specific courses, in a simple but 'innovative form that can involve all of our students.

This is the first step in a more expansive plan to foreground UWB as a multi-lingual campus through three interrelated projects: Multilingual Glossaries, Multilingual Cookbook & Multilingual Directional Signage.

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The Art of TeachingThe art of teaching is to educe—drawing something out from

within, rather than cramming something into the mind from the outside. Educe means to draw forth or bring out, as something potential or latent; elicit; develop.

Confucius: 温故知新【 wēngùzhīxīn 】 gain new insights through restudying old material; reviewing past helps one to understand the present. The Analects

Plato: all knowledge is drawn from what we already have in our intelligence. Meno

Coleridge: by awakening the principle and method of self-develop ment. Essays on Method, from The Friend (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1969), 472

This “something” is the rich resources already in shape on campus: this project tries to transform students’ linguistic/cultural heritage into positive energy in their academic pursuit.


Need AnalysisNative Language (L1) as an Aid

to cope with a second language (L2) 1. These multilingual glossaries are obviously valuable to the

1.5 Generation and international students. In winter 2013 alone, UWB, boasting 3,500 as the fastest growing branch university in Washington State, has 277 students coming from 31 countries;

2. This will help students who are learning a second language in a place where it is not used on a daily basis;

3. Those who want to participate in a Study Abroad Program but may be poorly prepared linguistically;

4. Certain majors/minors that require language proficiency at different levels.

Everyone has a stake. But the key is to help students help themselves.

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A “LIVE IDEA” & A SIMPLE PLANAlfred North Whitehead:

The Aims of Education (1916)Phase 1. For each class included in this project, the instructor will

develop a short list of around 30-50 concepts, ideas, and terms that are essential for that course and subject matter. Each will have a brief definition, explanation, and critical evaluation.

Students will then be recruited from the class to develop a provisional translation into another language that they know. Students’ work will be rewarded with credit or extra credit. While we will start with Chinese and Spanish (the languages now taught at UWB, we will include other languages as possible.

Phase 2 will be refinement of the translations, with the help of experts, to produce a DOUBLE COLUMN entry for each concept or term with English and a second language next to it.

As the glossary for a course is polished and expanded, it will be available as an on-line or published resource, for instance, laminated reference chart—show an example.


LINGUISTIC & INTELLECTUAL TRANSFORMATION

The potential impact of this project is very clear. For bilingual/multilingual students, this provides an immediate way to put the ideas they are learning in an expanded context or “fresh combinations”, to quote Whitehead. A multi-lingual glossary allows them to preserve and use their native language as an instrument of transformation. In practice, it also shows that translating ideas is never just a matter of finding words in two languages. The process is organic, not mechanic.

For domestic students, this provides a very effective and simple way for them to see and to explore a second language, without presuming that they have to be fluent to recognize how language differences expand our minds. But within four years, they can pick up some knowledge of L2 or L3, a benefit to come to UW Bothell campus.

For the UW Bothell living and learning community, this also provides a very direct way to foster more communication among students, in discussions about the core ideas that their courses present and develop.


DEVELOPING A CRITICAL EDGEWhen Implementing Multilingual Glossaries

In Plato’s Republic I, Socrates discusses how to define justice with Cephalus. Cephalus, quoting Si'monides (556?–468?) b.c. a Greek poet., defines justice as “… repaying debts”.

Socrates’ challenge: Is it that simple? “… no more than this? And even to this are there not exceptions?” Socrates’ counter example: In case you return a weapon to a crazy man, a simple definition of justice as “repaying debts” could be consequential.

Plato treats questions like this as “provocatives” that seem to show a thing and its opposite, sameness and difference, at the same time.

To follow Socrates, translation is not that simple as it creates a provocative moment. A provocative moment is valuable as it is thought-provoking.

Let’s challenge Socrates! Though there might be exceptions to the rule, not repaying debts will entail chaotic consequences. So the rule has some merit. Socrates however seems to override the whole rule by an exception, therefore taking his partial truth for the whole. But Cephalus escaped at this point as many readers would. In Socrates’ logic, I don’t have to repay $100 in case the person use the money to buy a weapon…


Nurture Globally Competent CitizensEverybody has a stake in world language learning

To become a Globally competent citizen, one needs to have a thorough cultural knowledge of global affaires;

Cultural knowledge to a great extent depends on one’s linguistic competency. First and foremost, a globally competent citizen should be linguistically competent;

Per UW Admissions policy (College Academic Distribution Requirements), “All applicants must complete a minimum level of preparation in six subject areas. This requirement ensures that students entering the University have an appreciation for the liberal arts and are adequately prepared to succeed in college.” 2 credits (2 years) of “world languages” in high school are required.

For purposes of admission, each quarter of language in college is considered equivalent to one credit (one year) in high school.

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It is More ChallengingFish Out of Water!

To study a language in a place that is not used on the daily basis is more difficult!

Multilingual Glossaries will increase the input of the target language to a great extent for students who are taking Chinese and Spanish on campus.

A multilingual campus makes sense as it will create a swimming pool;

Sample directional signs are designed in English, Chinese (Simplified characters & Pinyin, exclusive of the traditional characters) and Spanish. Show the signs here.


SAMPLE SIGNShttp://www.forvo.com/word/librer%C3%ADa/http://www.forvo.com/search-es/biblioteca/

Signs like these, installed around the campus (Library, Parking Lot,Sports Field, and so on, will give constant reminders of language diversity--close to 7000 living languages divided into many families.


http://www.forvo.com/search-es/Comida%20%20r%C3%A1pida/

Interaction between L1 & L2 Produces Something New

赛百味【 sài bǎi wèi】

(phonetic/semantic rendering: surpassing hundreds of flavors

SUBWAYComida rápida

(“fast food” in Spanish)


“Multilingual Glossaries” Will Generates SomethingTautegorical

While this treatment of the Symbol presents other problems, Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s term, tautegorical, which the OED attributes to him and defines from his Aids to Reflection (1825) as “expressing the same subject but with a difference,” provides a very powerful and useful term for indicating this characteristic of metaphor, where similarities and differences co-exist.

Such a linguistic/conceutual juxtaposition will broaden our intellectual horizon as it reveals something about how other people interpret the same idea with differences.

A is B (in certain ways) simultaneously implies A is not B (in other ways)—the second part is often shadowed!

My love is a red rose (smell good, looks pretty) But a rose has thorns; it could prick you!


Sample Entry on “Gestalt Switch” (the Norming Session on Nov. 14th 2012

Definition/Application/EvaluationPrepare Students for Essay Writing

Gestalt, meaning "essence or shape of an entity's complete form," is a German word that is often translated as “whole” or “form”. It is a theory of the mind and brain of the Berlin School. It maintains that “the whole is more than the sum of its parts.” This holistic approach has its philosophical implications when handling human affairs. In Frames of Mind: A Rhetorical Reader with Occasions for Writing, Professor Robert DiYanni explains that the way a doctor looks at a child patient differs from that of a parent: one professionally or clinically, the other emotionally or lovingly. (41) Opposite to this holistic approach is a one-dimensional or single vision that fails to take into account how complex an issue could be. A gestalt switch, similar to de-familiarization (in Russian formalism), tries to awake us (from our own “paralysis” in James Joyce’s terms).


Face or Vase?http://www.forvo.com/search-da/Rubin/

Rubin's Vase (or Face), a set of optical illusions developed around 1915 by the Danish psychologist Edgar Rubin, calls our attention to an intellectual blind spot we suffer without our self-knowledge, and challenges us to look at the picture and other things from a new perspective.


Translation & TechnologyHow to Accelerate the Process?

To accelerate the process, use online technologies. For instance, in Microsoft Word/Power Point, highlight a word with the mouse, and then right click. Choose “Translate” and in the window opened on the righ set the source language (From) and the target language (To) as desired. Make sure you reset “Region and Language” in the control panel.

Vocabulary Expansion: highlight a word with the mouse, and then right click. Choose “Synonyms” to paraphrase the word. Be careful since synonyms are just cousins, and paraphrase could be a heresy in Cleanth Brooks’ terms. Nevertheless, this sharpens students’ understanding of each word. For instance, a story differs from a parable, and a parable is not the same as an anecdote.


Translation as Creationthe relationship

between the Old and New Translation is a sophisticated process of negotiations and interpretations

between two languages and cultures; When a counterpart is not available in one’s native tongue (which is called

developmental problems), translation creates something new (as genuine poetry does) by reshuffling the cards (throw the old in fresh combinations, to quote Whitehead) in the old structure;

电脑【 diànnǎo 】 computer; In Chinese, it means “electronic brain” 保龄球【 bǎolíngqiú 】 bowling, a “protecting age ball (game)” My bowling record: the first shot is just fine; but it’s not progressive as my

arm gets tired. Avocado 鳄梨【 èlí 】 crocodile/alligator pear. Translation plays a significant role in enlarging Chinese vocabulary by

introducing loan words into Chinese; It is the same as in English (loan words);


Loan Words Haven Been Incorporateda Powerful Language Has Its Built-In

Mechanisms to Be Perpetually Regenerative


Translation as Transformation Empowerment -- for international students, it is a real step in the

direction of seeing them (by others) and seeing themselves less as a problem than as a great and vital resource. Take a step back: invite students to upload their translation on class website;

Translation improves conceptual understanding; Translation may create a “provocative” (Plato) moment and highlight

differences for critical reflection and cultural understanding. Take a step forward: invite students to present their translation and explain where it differs from its English counterpart;

Translation offers something that (creative) writing can’t—you have to face it until you come up with an equivalent.

The goal is to maximize positive transfers from L1 to L2 and vise versa.


Language Transfer & Developmental Issues

Language Transfer refers to L1 interference with L2 or vice versa. It could be positive or negative. It is highly predictable.

“I happy now”, an anecdote about two Japanese women hunting Matsutake, a pine mushroom on Whidbey Island; Note in Japanese as in Chinese, there is no verb to be. This negative transfer is carried over from L1 to L2.

Developmental issues in SLA (Second Language Acquisition) refers to a situation when a counterpart is missing from the mother tongue. When this happens, it doesn’t mean your mother tongue is useless; instead, you can still educe something from your old treasure-house.

Broadly speaking, we are dealing with developmental issues on the daily basis. Confucius said one will be qualified to be a teacher if he knows how to infer something new from the old materials.

Whitehead: throw into fresh combinations


Student Sample TranslationB CUSP 134 AUTUMN 2012

Anadiplosis (Spanish) conduplicación, (linguística)

repetición retórica de la última palabra de una oración al comienzo de la siguiente oración

The Alternating method: Alternancia Sucesión de forma recíproca y repetida de fenómenos, hechos, etc.:

Ejemplo: alternancia de partidos políticos en el poder. (by Herlinda)

Ethos, Pathos, Logos The Greek philosopher

Aristotle divided the means of persuasion, appeals, into three categories--Ethos, Pathos, Logos.

希腊哲学家亚里士多德把说服的方法分成了三个类别：喻德，喻情，喻理。(by Frank)


The Sunken Garden: Mathematically Magnificent, Especially Juxtaposed

by a Delicate Japanese Garden close by(The Butchart Gardens in Victoria BC)

Jennie Butchart’s transformation of the Sunken Garden (started in 1904) from an abandoned limestone quarry, is a stroke of genius. Jennie’s genius lies in that she capitalized on the old structure without fighting it, moreover, transforming trash to treasure. This is the essence of Taoism—the natural way.

Philosophically, “Multilingual Glossaries” will mobilize L1 as a valuable resource to master L2 and vice versa. Bypassing L1 in L2 acquisition is like shooting a ball without using the white ball when playing the table pool.


It’s sad to see students lose their cultural and linguistic heritage…

Guo Jie’s Waterloo, May 20th 2012 “Only You”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHYicUe4ieo

邯郸学步【 hándānxuébù 】 imitate others slavishly and thus

lose one's individuality. According to the legend, a

person from the State of Yan travelled to Handan, city in the state of Zhao. When he got there, he became infatuated with their unique way of walking. He tried to imitate it so intently, but was unsuccessful. He tried so intently that he forgot his own method of walking, and ended up crawling back to Yan.

Guo, after 10 years stay in France, may be comfortable conversing in French or in Chinese exclusively and respectively, got stuck in a bilingual setting.

He was puzzled when the lady, one of the bosses who would hire you on the spot, asked him some questions in French. It turned out that her French was full of errors;

When the host mentioned some films (Guo’s major) in Chinese, Guo was completely out of tune.


SUMMARYThis project, starting with Multi-Lingual Glossaries, is a

first step to foregrounding the linguistic richness already available in our community. Global learning can happen close at home.

As the Glossaries are developed, they can serve to foreground the intellectual content of our courses in a very specific and effective form, for all students.

In future phases, we can build a greater awareness of multiple languages through signage, activities, projects, that all focus on multiple languages as a huge resource.


The Role of Monolingual Students

Instructors can invite them to identify and compose additional definitions/entries for extra credit;

Invite them to have all the readings recorded in English in MP3, etc. for extra credit;


Advice to InstructorsScale Down on the Master List

Out of my exuberance, I’ve put together a list of over 100 words for 134 last quarter;

Do not try to generate a big list at the beginning of the quarter; spread it week by week as it is labor intensive;

Give priority to those courses that are repeatedly taught to refine the list;

To ensure the quality and accuracy in definition, application, and evaluation, instructors need to take control of the master list in English;


Game DesignLearning through Playing

Adapted to Hedbanz by making flashcards! We can also explore possibilities for

computer game designs the fundamental principle of which being problem solving;

Knowledge Contest (Who Wants to Be a Millionaire/Jeopardy) organized by themes: coffee, justice, etc.


Status of translation in ESL Programs

ESL Used to focus on grammar/sentence patterns/translation; Nowadays it is generally not preferred: Over-burdensome; Slow down

the process; Favor a model that maximizes the input of the target language, not the

native language; Direct method emulates L1 acquisition ("The Berlitz Method” (1878)

pioneered the communicative approach, immersion, etc.; the French model has its romantic appeal: boys meet girls (talk to your girlfriend in French, your enemy in Deutsch, do business in Arabic, sing opera in Italian, etc.; some have gone so far to punish students if they speak their native language in class);

TPA (Total Physical Response), a German model (James Asher), very effective to teach (action) verbs;


L2 Learning is not quite the same as L1 acquisition

Though interesting, those approaches fail to take into account that L2 learners learn a language through their native tongue for reference; L2 learning is more comparative at every step;

The direct approach works in some situations, but overall, it puts students in a guessing mode which leads to inaccurate understanding and cultural misunderstanding;

“Multilingual Glossaries” is an Intensive Mode to study or “investigate” something, proposed by Zhu Xi (1130-1200), in the Song dynasty (N. Song 960-1126; S. Song 1127-1279). “Don’t do that [survey a great many books]. Read one book thoroughly, then read another one [thoroughly].” (Ebrey 169)

The Intensive method works most effectively for students taking lower division classes when a solid foundation is most needed. The rationale is slow but steady. Something microwaved may not taste good.


common core glossaries a multi-lingual approach

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