LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Read about the experience of a bilingual teen; identify benefits and challenges involved in growing up bilingual; empathize with those who are learning to speak English.

HEALTH ED STANDARDS

NHES 2: Analyze the influence of family, culture, and other factors on health behaviors.

 

CASEL: Relationship skills; social awareness

KEY VOCAB

fluent

bilingual

compassion

Lesson Plan: My Life In Two Languages

What’s it like to dream in one language, then wake up and start speaking a second one? Here’s what Kristina, 17, wants you to know about growing up bilingual.

Table of Contents:

1. Preparing to Read

2. Reading and Discussing

3. Building Comprehension and Vocabulary

4. Expanding SEL Opportunities

1. Preparing to Read

Before you read the article “My Life In Two Languages,” ask your students the following pre-reading question:

What are the benefits and challenges of growing up bilingual?

2. Reading and Discussing

  • Have your students read the article “My Life In Two Languages” independently; read the article out loud to them; or have students partner-read the article out loud.
  • After they’ve read the article, revisit the pre-reading question. Have their answers changed? 
  • Next, have your students answer the Close-Reading and Critical-Thinking questions, either working in small groups or independently. 


Close-Reading Questions
The following questions can be shared in printable or interactive form from the Resources tab. 

  1. How does Kristina help her grandparents? Describe at least one of the ways mentioned in the article.
  2. How has being bilingual helped Kristina in school?

Critical-Thinking Questions

  1. In your opinion, what might the greatest advantage be of growing up bilingual?

  2. How might you be able to help a classmate who is still learning English to feel more comfortable at school?

3. Building Comprehension and Vocab

Check students’ comprehension of and engagement with the story with the following assessment tools:

  • Quiz

  • Vocab Builder

4. Expanding SEL Opportunities

Continue the learning journey with the following extension activity:

Time for students to learn more about BILINGUAL SUPERPOWERS. First, have them research the benefits of being bilingual. Then, have them select the top five benefits from their research and create a poster to spread awareness about the incredible benefits of being bilingual.

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Text-to-Speech