CUMMINS CUP THEORY

In the last Methodoly lessons our teacher explained us the term created by Cummins known as COMMON UNDERLYING PROFICIENCY (CUP).

According to Cummins, in the course of learning one language, a child acquires a set of skills and implicit metalinguistic Knowledge, that can be drawn upon when working in another language.

Therefore, CUP provides the base for the development of both, the first language (L1) and the second language (L2). Any expansion of CUP that takes place in one language will have a benefit effect on the other language, doing easier and easier to learn additional languages.

As teachers, we have to encourage our students to continue their native language development. Students should have the opportunity to read in their own language. We also have to suggest that parents make some time to discuss with their child in their native language. For instance, they can speak about what they have done in school. Concepts learned in one language are transferible to the second language. 

Our conception of language teaching has changed. We have to let our students to use their own language. Researchers believe that teachers can help their students learn more efficiently if they tap into student's prior Knowledge, concepts, vocabulary and so on from first language to help build second language. For instance, if a student understands the concept "justice" in his own language he also understands the mean in English. It will be more difficult acquire at the same time both the concept and the name in English.

To sum up, we can say that one of the best predictors of second language proficiency is proficiency in the mother tongue.