Summary of A Bilingual Mind

The article summaries the importance and benefits of being bilingual as it critically compares and contrasts the difference between Bilingual, trilingual or just learning one language. This means that one of its purposes is to justify the vitality of language with a variety of perspectives.


As a human, learning to speak is in our nature and plays an important role in shaping our master identity. However accomplishing developing a variety languages allows scientists to explore the influence on our brain and its connection to the languages with our behaviour and structure of the brain itself. To justify,  the Lycée Français de New York is a great example of where students that are able to speak both English and French including the Cultural Services of the French Embassy allows experts to explore the science and its connection to being able to speak a variety of languages.

The article then continues to mention how we are crude linguists from the moment of earth since we can hear spoken sounds and begin to recognise different combinations language sounds. This is evident where a speech therapist with the Ecole International de New York Elisabeth Cros explains how: "Parents will react to the phonemes they recognise from their native tongues, which reinforce the baby's use of this selected ones."Moving forward, being Bilingual is something that children aren't really aware of doing. Studies show that they face the dog-chien dilemma where one encounters an object, action or concept and instantaneously toggles between two different words to describe it. This leads researchers to often point out the famous Physiological "Stroop test" where subjects are asked to read out for example, the word "red" in a different color. Undoubtedly, everyone experiences a slow lag but for bilinguals its measurable shorter. Not to forget a recent study in 2013 that expresses the advantages of being able to speak two languages where bilinguals were faster as well as more metabolically economical in executing the cognitive mission, using less energy in the frontal cortex than the monolinguals. 

Lynch also claims that multilingual children might exhibit social empathy faster than children who grow up learning only one language, which makes developments sense. This means that some studies have proven that a thickening of the cortex in two brain region specially in the left inferior parent establishes come for language and gesturing. Obviously structural difference are evident as the new science is really revealing.


However not every research or study out there finds advantages to bilingualism. This is evident where a psychologist at Concordia University in Montreal studied found that kinds had smaller comprehension vocabularies than kids being raise monolingual. The reasoning to so is because of parents mixing their languages when speaking to their kids which leads to what linguist call cod-switching. Not to forget that Bialystok agrees that this is a short-term disadvantage of bilingualism, and says in most cases the kids catch up therefore when they do, language skills acquired early can pay late-life dividends. In one study, bilinguals experienced the onset of age-related dementia 4.1 years later than monolinguals, and full-blown Alzheimer’s 5.1 years later.

Although multilingualism is not the only path to staying cognitively healthy, it is something many researchers and scientists are conducting valuable time to understand the relation between language and the brain.

Mother Tongue

A topic that is discussed in the article "Mother Tongue" is the importance of a person's home language. This is evident when the author Amy Tan mentions how her mother used to speak in broken English as she was not able to conform to the standard English causing her to stick with speaking her mother tongue, Chinese.

 I believe that conforming to speak Standard English is someones choice and shouldn't be something someone is forced to speak. However, moving abroad puts people in a position people to learn and develop the language that is most common in that area/region. For example, I've lived in the UAE for all my life which allows me to develop and hold onto my mother tongue that is Arabic. But if I for example moved abroad to a non-Arab speaking country, I would put myself in a situation where I would expand the common language that most people speak. This means that ones mother tongue is vital as it shapes your identity and provides you the empowerment to establish a sense of master identity and value towards your culture.

 I think this is the case because holding onto your mother tongue allows to:

1- Develop and maintain a positive, cultural identity in which children know that their home language is valued and important. Although some people may argue that not everyone is raised in there home country, allowing them to soley drift and feel that it is unessential for them will not allow them to exceed in any another language if they are not aware of their own mother tongue. Therefore holding onto there mother tongue will not only allow them to exceed in the language but also remember who they truly are and value their cultural identity.

2- Communicate and express themselves, freely and in increasingly complex ways. Even though some people may claim that not every mother tongue is something enjoyable to understand, it is the language you were born to speak and relate with amongst your family. This obviously helps children nurture relationships with family and friends in their home country for a continued sense of belonging. 

3- Transfer linguistic strengths, general skills and knowledge from their home languages to the language being learned, thus promoting proficiency in two languages and fostering bilingualism. This means that it is important to strengthen other languages as well because you will be able to communicate with different people and gain a variety of perspectives from one another. 

Overall, everyone must be able to express and distinguish themselves with the language that they speak yet seize the chance to learn another language that is most common in the area they are unfamiliar with because being bilingual allows you to expand your knowledge.

A Good Name

Hala pronounced /Ha-la/. Simple isn't it? What if I tell you that my full name is something I cannot fully know. Culturally in Islam, your middle name comes from your fathers name.  With that being said, my name Hala Raied Ahmad Darwish Mohamed Ahmad Ariqat is merely the beginning of my name because each name is a generation older beginning with Raied whom is my father and continuing off with my great grandfathers fathers etc..

To justify,  I come from an extremely large family (approximately 3000 people) causing it to be quite challenging to find out everyones name in history that came from the family "Ariqat". Although there are many evidences and explanations of family trees, with what I am aware of-  Five generations is the farthest my name can go in history.

Not to mention that the meaning of ones name plays a vital role in the world. You will find many couples/families listing the names that they plan on naming there baby or even having it planned before the baby is even born. This is highly evident throughout history and still is a tradition in the Arab culture today. For example: I am named after my grandmother "Hala" and my youngest brother is name after my grandfather "Ahmad". I think this is the case because we believe that a name is the greatest representation of who you are therefore passing a name down not only is a symbol of respect towards the elderly but also a sign of good luck. This means the parents hope you will share similar characteristic traits with the person you were named after.

With that being said, the meaning of someones name is usually either metaphorically powerful meanings or reflect importance religiously. As of my name Hala and no not like the song "Aint no Holler Backgirl" or "We Dem Boyz", my name is both for a Muslim and Christian female name giving the meaning "Halo"or initially the halo that illuminates glory and bright light around the moon. Wow! Who knew such a short and simply name would have such a powerful meaning. Technically speaking, I think this makes me become a living metaphor.

When I asked my parents why they named me Hala, they explained to me how it was rare to find a name that would not only match my grand mothers name but is easy to pronounce yet holds great value. They also continued describing how when they first saw my face, it was as if "Your face radiated moonlight because of how blessed we were to have you and how fair you were as a baby." Deep I know. My fathers name on the other hand literally means BOSS. This reflects characteristics like being strong and in control. As for my family name, it originates to the meaning "Alorooq" that literally translates to someone/something that is original and precious. Historically speaking "Ariqat" originally came from a tribal group of Bedouins whom were called after what people thought was the most suitable name based on there identity.

Without a doubt, this brings me back to my point that is how names not only help shape ones identity but also represents your self specially your uniqueness that you establish in this world as well as the easiest expression of ones cultural and historical background. Not to forget that one develops their identity as they grow and experience variety of challenges and journeys throughout their life. However the most vivid and logical symbol of yourself that you represent is initially your name which is in my opinion like your trademark. As the author Siri Hustvedt once said: "There is not future without a past, because what is to be cannot be imagined except as a form of repetition".

Jordanian Cultural Markers and Misconceptions

Assalamualaykum from the Arabian dessert dunes of Jordan! Allow me to escort you to your tent with my Camel and sweeten the Knafeh for desert while I ask Khadeeja to get your Sheesha ready. A day in the Middle East you may ask? Maybe whats shown on the media , but definitely not our reality today. 

According to Scribt.com, Language is known for being a "Communicative act that is social which is tied to cultural context as culture is shaped through our language use." With out a doubt, this leads to my point on how cultural markers are events or facets of our society that illustrate or reveal cultural or societal norms, and shifts in those norms.

Being part of the Arab community, I believe that most of Arabs share similar cultural aspects and traditions. This includes culture markers like being family-oriented and conservative people. Although I lived in the UAE for all my life, I still identify myself as being part of the Jordanian culture. An important culture marker in our society is spending quality time with family and friends in the desert alongside our delicious desert called Knafeh. This means you'll find us in desert areas like Wadi Rum and Wadi Alqamar. With out a doubt this is something that is important to us because as Jordanians, we believe we should take pride of our Bedouin historical context as it is part of our tradition to hold onto our customs and values. 

However, a misconception I think people have based on this cultural marker is that Jordan is not civilised in terms of infrastructure (houses and buildings) where most people still camp in hot desert dunes. Although Jordan isn't as rich in goods like oil, it is a civilised country with a relative high literacy rate as its illiteracy rate remains among the lowest in the Arab world with 9.1 per cent of residents aged above 13 classified as illiterate, according to the 2015 Population Census. As of the weather, Jordan's Winters are generally short and cool with temperatures of 5-10°C. One digit celsius? Yes, it does get this cold in Southwest Asia. 

To justify, understanding this cultural marker will promote more effective communication with one another where people would be able to talk to us normally without having to either translate what they say to Arabic or talk slowly in English. Not to mention how some tourists that I know of would pack their bags with shorts and sunglasses expecting a hot summers day during January.  Little did they know that Jordan has four seasons and they would come back freezing! Being aware of such aspects like weather and the development of the country/ people would allow people to not only pack a more suitable set of outfits but also would gain a wider perspective on the cultural norms and development throughout history. Unfolding such misconceptions and cultural markers develops an educated society where we are able to express and share our culture with one another.

Introductory

Greetings from my first Grade 11 English blog post!

 I would first like to introduce myself as Hala Raied Ariqat a 15 year-old Jordanian living in the UAE. I’ve been living in the UAE for all my life and this is my seventh year at Raha International School. As a student in the IB, I’ve always learnt to express myself considering important aspects such as the IB learner profile that comprises of characteristics like being knowledgeable and reflective. In my first blog post I would like to reflect on my self specifically my future goals as well as my interests and things I value most in life.

Personally, something I value the most is my time spent with my family and friends and getting to travel around the world.

I think these are things I am appreciative of because traveling allows you to gain new perspectives, as you are able to experience and become open minded towards the varieties of cultures and beliefs around the globe. Some of my favorite cities include:

1-    Milan: I think that this is one of my favorite cities because of the cities fascinating historical architectural throughout its lively streets. Not to forget the finest shopping experience that the city has to offer.

2-    London: London has to be one of my favorite cities because of the ideal breeze that you can enjoy while strolling around the streets in addition to the delighting culinary experience.

Overall I would say I am more of a city person rather than a nature person because I find it more fascinating and enjoyable to acknowledge the vast majority of things in a city.

Not to forget I find it important to spend time with my family and friends because you will be able to explore common bonds that develops building strong bonds with one another. This means that you would be able to establish a sense of being comfortable and truthful to one another.

Although I find myself enjoying time spent with my family and friends as well as traveling, I enjoy doing Zumba classes as well as swimming. I have been doing Zumba for four years now and this is my second year of swimming. I think doing weekly sports on a regular basis not only organizes your time but also physically allows you to be fit and active.

Something that I would also like to mention about what I care is how I am prideful of my cultural values. Without a doubt I find it crucial to be aware of ones traditional background. I think this is the case because history has always been a subject that interests me ever since I was young therefore I find it highly valuable to hold on to heritage because without a past, one has no future. With that being said, I am still very passionate about the latest trends and style in the fashion and beauty industry. Of course a celebrity that reflects both beauty and humanitarian work is definitely Angelina Jolie that is someone I will always look up to. I believe she reflects the perfect balance of being a ravishing style icon while playing a major role in the United Nations. Obviously building such a major role in this generation inspires a younger audience to fulfill their passions and goals. This leads to dreams and goals that I have for this year and in the future that I am motivated to achieve such as:

Academically in Grade 12…

1-    To be able to maintain my honor roll grades (High predicted IB grade)

2-    To be able to achieve a 6 in English class

3-    To be able to know exactly what I want and where (I am contemplating either Business Retail Management or Business Corporate Law specifically in London, UK)

By the end of university…

1-    To be able to graduate with a Masters Degree

2-    To be able to know where I will be working

By the end of my 30^th year on earth…

1-    To be able to love what I do

2-    To be able to live happily with my own family

3-    To be able to work in the UAE with my own business

In my opinion English class will allow me to achieve my goals by the end of grade 12 because if I work hard in English by staying organized and motivated, I will not only achieve a 6 in Language and Literature but also it will help me boost up my high average IB points. This means that such rigorous and critical course will allow me to know exactly what I want to study by the end of grade 12 as It expands my sense of discovery and shapes my perspective of the world more effectively.

Not to forget that by doing so, English class will also develop my critical thinking skills that’ll be useful in important life decision like knowing where I will work as well as what in specifically.

I believe language has a vital role in my life because it a form of communication with one another and is one of the most basic parts of ones individuality. With out language, we would not be able to achieve the needs of developing our society since language is originally the constitute element of civilization. This is evident where language established a form of uncivilized state of humans to todays 21^st century generation where people are able to fly planes and discover inventions for solutions to our problems today. I also think that it is important to study language because you will be able to easily convey your ideas with one another and develop easy social contact with one another. Although language allows you to exchange ideas in order to create a better society, I have somewhat felt excluded due to language barriers. Obviously this happens between one another especially in an International school where not every language is your mother tongue. However this also expands other forms of communication such as sign language as well as face value that play an important role when one another do not speak the same language. This also enable you to appreciate and further value upon the importance of language in ones society that we sometimes take for granted.

Overall I am extremely looking forward for English class this year as I believe that English is one of the most important subjects to learn and further advance in ones educational years. I hope that with motivation and hard work I will definitely be dedicated in achieving an overall of 6 in English.

I forgot to mention my love towards my endearing and enchanting cat called MUFFIN (Yes I am a cat lover too Mr. Micheal).


Best Regards,

Hala Ariqat