Bilingual Education A) Method of

Bilingual Education A) Method of bilingual education- According to the University of Michigan (n.d.), bilingual education takes place when students receive lessons in more than one language. There are several methods of bilingual education that teachers can choose from when teaching students who speak different languages. Two-way emersion or two-way bilingual education involves having students fluent in two languages receiving information in both languages in order that the students retain fluency in both languages.

Students may also be put in classrooms with special instructors who are trained in teaching English as a Second Language. B) Two Way Immersion- These programs are directed at native speakers of English as well as English Language Learners. In this scenario, both groups of students are put into one classroom where they receive instruction in both languages. This helps both groups foster bilingualism. In two-way immersion programs, an about equal grouping of language is key ("Directory of," 2009). C) Bilingualism- Any person who speaks two languages can be considered bilingual.

Bilingualism in education means using English Language Learners' native languages in order to teach English, increase academic achievement, preserve culture, teach a second language, or develop more bilingual people to serve as national assets (National Association for Bilingual Education, 2004A). D) Second Language- In education, this term refers to the teaching of a second language to native speakers of English. While many countries around the world teach second languages from a young age, the United States only does so in high school, and it is often not required.

There are benefits and costs to teaching students a second language. Knowing a second language will no doubt increase opportunities for students, but this may prove difficult for those who are not linguistically inclined and will require a cost in education funds. E) Immersion Program- According to the University of Michigan (n.d.), an immersion program involves placing speakers of English into a class taught entirely in a target language in the hope that the English speakers will acquire a second language. Explanation of Concepts 1.

According to the National Association for Bilingual Education, "Bad teaching is bad teaching in any language" (para. 3). Thus, engaging students in the classroom environment is not simply a problem of language, but also of instruction. Student engagement can be achieved when teachers try to make their activities fun, interesting, and appropriate. Differentiated instruction is necessary in this goal. Teachers must understand their students' limits, allowing them to complete tasks by drawing pictures or other non-verbal activities. In this way, the student's classroom engagement will improve. 2.

In a bilingual classroom, there are two primary factors that affect student engagement. Language is one, but another is the classroom environment. While students in two-way immersion programs and other bilingual education programs may have the occasion to feel bored when they are not be instructed in their language, teachers can create an environment in which they are stimulated.

The National Association for Bilingual Education (2004) notes that the involvement of parents, materials provided by the school, and the support that the program gets are all important factors in the success of bilingual classrooms. In addition, these factors greatly affect student engagement, as it is difficult to engage students without the resources to run an effective class. 3. Faculty have many concerns going into the bilingual classroom. The National Association for Bilingual Education (2004) notes that teachers in a bilingual classroom do not have an easy job.

In fact, the association implies that achieving a functioning bilingual classroom may be difficult for teachers. Regardless, studies in 1991 through 2002 have shown that bilingual education works, in terms of student achievement. In 2000, researchers showed that bilingual children were able to achieve higher literacy scores on tests than their monolingual counterparts. In 2002, researchers also found that students perform better academically when they are in programs that foster the development of a native language (Thomas and Collier, 2002).

Thus, with the difficulties it presents for staff, one can still see the importance of bilingual education. 4. In the bilingual classroom, support for student learners is one of the most important factors determining the success of that program. According to the National Association for Bilingual Education, some programs that are called bilingual actually are not bilingual. These programs allow students to.