Week 5- Home Language (I-A)

Our Journal – International Mother Language Day Edition
Week 5 – February 28th

Idiom of the Week

Idiom: "Lost in translation"
Meaning: When the meaning of something is misunderstood or unclear due to language differences.
Example: Some jokes don’t work in every language because humor can get lost in translation.

Words of the Week: Pick Your Favorite! (8)

👉 Dialect – A regional or social variety of a language.
Example: People in Spain and Latin America speak Spanish, but each region has its own dialect.

👉 Bilingual – Able to speak two languages fluently.
Example: Being bilingual can open doors to more career opportunities.

👉 Linguistics – The scientific study of language and its structure.
Example: Linguistics helps us understand how languages evolve over time.

👉 Pronunciation – The way a word is spoken.
Example: English learners often struggle with the pronunciation of words like "though" and "through."

👉 Translation – Converting text or speech from one language to another.
Example: The translation of the book helped people around the world read it.

👉 Heritage Language – A language learned at home that is different from the dominant language of society.
Example: She speaks English at school but practices her heritage language, Korean, at home.

👉 Fluency – The ability to speak a language smoothly and accurately.
Example: It takes years of practice to achieve fluency in a second language.

👉 Endangered Language – A language at risk of disappearing as fewer people speak it.
Example: Efforts are being made to preserve endangered languages like Ainu in Japan.

Quote of the Week

"A different language is a different vision of life."
— Federico Fellini

Book of the Week

“The Power of Babel: A Natural History of Language” by John H. McWhorter

📚 Understanding Language Evolution:
This book explores how languages develop, change, and influence each other over time. It’s a fascinating look at the connections between languages and cultures.

Key Takeaway:
Language is always evolving, shaped by history, migration, and culture. Learning new languages broadens our perspective on the world.

Fill in the Blanks – Exercise

Use the words from this week’s list to complete the sentences:

  1. People who grow up speaking two languages are considered ___________.

  2. The ___________ of certain words varies depending on the region.

  3. Some communities are working hard to save their ___________ from disappearing.

Journal of the Week – Try to Write and Bring It to Class!

Theme: The Importance of Language in Culture
Write about a language you have studied or one that is important to your culture. How does language shape identity and connection? Have you ever experienced a moment where language brought you closer to someone from a different background? Be sure to use at least three of the words from this week’s list.


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Week 5- Home Language (B)

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Week 4- Body Language (B)