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Krystal Lin replied to Sydney Vermeeren's discussion April 7 Discussion Post
"I think many of us relate to your hesitation to call yourself 'bilingual.' We often set the bar at perfect fluency, but as your post suggests, subordinate bilingualism is a valid stage of the journey. Your focus on the 'complex sense of self' is a…"
Apr 29
Sydney Vermeeren posted a discussion
Podcast Recording
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=9bec52cd84&attid=0... have provided my podcast link here! It is organized mainly as a conversation about my learning strategies…
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Apr 29
Sydney Vermeeren posted a discussion
Final Reflection Paper (SDLC 105)
Reflecting on the semester, I am proud of the work I have been able to do and of the skills I have developed not only in academic language learning, but in realizing how I can best push myself and use diverse resources to progress. Being able to…
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Apr 29
Sydney Vermeeren replied to Lila Taylor's discussion Language Learning Plan
"I wanted to go back and look at what you had planned here -- I would like to practice outside of classes to maintain and/or improve my level as a Spanish speaker throughout my time in college and after, and I've noticed that sometimes I tend to…"
Apr 28
Sydney Vermeeren replied to Gisselle Gonzalez's discussion Discussion Post #7
"I find it really interesting that Hangul shows readers how to make the sounds for Korean. I'm curious to learn more about that and was considering it as I watched some of the final presentations when they showed vocab words and explained…"
Apr 28
Sydney Vermeeren posted a discussion
Journal Post 4
This post will be my last reflection post on my weekly learning strategy. I have really enjoyed my time both in SDLC and learning with my tutor this semester, and I do feel that I have grown a great deal in my work inside and outside of the…
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Apr 26
Reyna Gomez replied to Sydney Vermeeren's discussion April 7 Discussion Post
"I agree that not all bilingual speakers are the same. While the term “bilingual” can describe someone who knows and uses two languages, there are more specific categories, like coordinate, compound, and subordinate bilingualism, that help explain…"
Apr 25
Sydney Vermeeren replied to Myanna Hightower's discussion Discussion Post #10
"This sounds like a great plan covering many elements of ASL and providing a comprehensive view of the language. I was curious if you have observed or learned about dialectical variation as it pertains to syntax, morphology, and phonology. Are there…"
Apr 23
Sydney Vermeeren replied to Sydney Vermeeren's discussion Cultural Artifact 3
"I think at first the focus was more on shorter-term military alliances right at the beginning, and then travel and diplomacy expanded as trade continued. For example, I just read that a man named Gan Ying was sent as an envoy to the Roman Empire…"
Apr 23
Tal Sheleg replied to Sydney Vermeeren's discussion Culture Post 4
"Hi Sydney, 
I like how you are using class assignments to help you prepare for your study abroad next semester! I had no idea how many people in China used social media. It is also interesting how they have different platforms than we do. It sounds…"
Apr 19
Luke Orris replied to Sydney Vermeeren's discussion Cultural Artifact 3
"That is really interesting that the Chinese were sending embassies to try to learn more about the other civilizations along the trade route. It must have been an incredible journey visiting that many different, very seperate cultures back before the…"
Apr 12
Sydney Vermeeren posted a discussion
Culture Post 4
Last semester, one of my classes included readings on the development of Chinese “super-apps”, and one of the most consistent recommendations I have received for traveling abroad was to download apps like WeChat and Alipay before leaving to be…
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Apr 12
Sydney Vermeeren posted a discussion
April 7 Discussion Post
Not all bilingual speakers are the same. Firstly, according to Barto-Sisamout and Nicol,  “because language is intimately tied to culture and one’s sense of group, bilingual people may have a more complex and multifaceted sense of self and group…
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Apr 5
Gisselle Gonzalez replied to Sydney Vermeeren's discussion Discussion Post 02/22
"Reading your post was interesting! I didn't know there was a history between food and language. Especially the word "hotel" that was fun to learn. Have fun learning about different dialects! I'm sure that would be a good way to learn a huge section…"
Apr 4
Sydney Vermeeren posted discussions
Mar 29
Sydney Vermeeren posted a discussion
Discussion for Class on March 24
 Languages go extinct as their communities of speakers shrink and fewer people become able to share them (especially if, in some cases, they are not written or recorded), and as other languages begin to become used more frequently in daily life. I…
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Mar 22
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Reflection Paper

Throughout this course, I have gained crucial knowledge and practical skills for learning a foreign language. Bahasa Indonesia is a beautiful language, and I am grateful for the experience of having practiced learning it. As a language learner, I have struggled in more traditional language courses, but the self-directed model has allowed me to get a better grasp of the language at my own pace. I took this course for fun, not for my communication requirement, which also made a difference because I came into the course with more enthusiasm–feeling that language learning was less of a “chore”, so to speak. I have learned a lot about my strengths and weaknesses as a language learner, but the self-directed model has increased my confidence and comfort level learning Indonesian. As a cultural explorer, I have realized the importance of engaging with media in the target language. Watching Indonesian TV shows and listening to Indonesian music have aided my immersion, understanding, and…

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Started by Kaylee Wyrick in Spring 2025 Ning Discussion Posts
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Cultural Post #4

Deaf clubs have historically acted as vital social clubs for deaf and hard of hearing individuals to not only find community during the oralist and other discriminatory movements but to advocate for their community. Oralism promoted speech and lip-reading over sign language and frequently discouraged or outright banned the wide use of ASL, especially in schools. As a result, many deaf and hard of hearing individuals experienced isolation from both hearing society. Deaf clubs offered sponsored events like holiday parties, athletic events, and plays among other things, and were the center of social life for members of the deaf and hard of hearing community, especially those who were doubly discriminated against for being a deaf person of color. The story of deaf clubs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZbgSBX3vYk&t=1sHowever, the popularity of these clubs has declined over the years because of a growing divide between the younger and older generation of deaf and hard of hearing…

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Started by Myanna Hightower in Spring 2025 Culture Posts
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Cultural Post #3

William Stokoe played a transformative role in the recognition of ASL as its own independent language as, before his research, ASL was regarded as a mere pictorial version of English. While teaching at Gallaudet University, the world’s leading university for deaf and hard of hearing students, Stokoe began closely studying the structure of ASL, recognizing patterns and linguistic rules that his collegues didn't, suggesting ASL functioned similarly to spoken languages. His observations led him to develop the Stokoe notation system, which became the first widely recognized written system for documenting ASL. This system transcribed the phonemes, or parameters, of ASL including handshape, location, palm orientation, movement, and non-manual markers/signals into a recognizable linguistic format providing undeniable evidentce that ASL was a language of its own, independent of English. It contradicted the longstanding beliefs of the oralist movement that emphasized teaching deaf individuals…

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Started by Myanna Hightower in Spring 2025 Culture Posts
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