¶ … Bilingual Education and English as a Second Language
One among the many important topics in multiculturalism in the U.S. is centered on the many diverse languages in the country. One of the topics of quite often-heated discussion is the way in which English, as a language should be taught to Americans, whose mother tongue is not English. This is particularly so with foreign immigrants as their assimilation of English eases their assimilation into the culture of America. The number of immigrants is increasing day by day especially from Asia and Asian immigrants constitute more than twenty five percent of all foreign immigrants. Each state has to decide how these immigrants are educated in English. (A Critique of Transitional Bilingual Education and English Immersion)
Bilingual education is a topic that is very controversial in the current American education scenario. It was initially legislated as a language tool to solve the problem of Hispanic performance. Those that supported it argued that students with limited English proficiency would find it easier if the transition to English was deferred enabling them to concentrate on acquiring skills in other core subjects like mathematics and science. The passage of time has reduced the objections especially from the professionals, but expanded the charter to incorporate other objectives that were not originally intended like retention of languages and cultural traditions. The first legislation on bilingual education at the federal level was the Title VIII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1968. This legislation provided grants for new programs to facilitate the development of bilingual education programs to meet the needs of non-English speaking students. (Learning English)
A Supreme Court decision in 1974 did the needful in making it a national mandate. In this decision the Court ruled that the school districts were obligated to take the necessary positive steps to help non-English speakers to overcome the education barriers faced by them. In the same year by passing the Equal Educational Opportunity Act, extended this ruling extended to all schools. Many amendments with the passage of time have broadened the scope of Title VIII to allow the enrollment of English- speaking students for bi-lingual education programs. Others expanded the Act to incorporate the maintenance of students' native languages and to stress on teacher training. An important legislation was also passed by way of amendments to limit the scope of Title VIII by funding special English-only programs and put a time limit of three years at the most for participation in Title VIII programs. (Learning English)
The much vaster Title I program aimed at sponsoring compensatory education for disadvantaged students also provides funds, but more for the English as a Second Language programs for students with limited English proficiency. However, programs under Title I and Title VIII may be coordinated at state level to offer bilingual programs. The funds available under Title VIII and Title I programs were $180 million and $10 billion, respectively. The U.S. Department of Education defines bilingual education broadly as any teaching method that uses two languages. The competitor as a teaching model to assist students with limited English proficiency is called English as a Second Language instruction. This is in essence a program of English immersion, which is specially prepared towards acquiring of skills in the English language. Students with limited English proficiency spend a greater part of their time at school in a regular classroom receiving all teaching and instruction in English. This program also facilitates the meeting of the students in small groups with language experts away from the classrooms.
The purpose of the English as a Second Language program is to make the students fluent in English as soon as possible, as the acquiring of language skills is the easiest at young ages. The belief is that any deficiency in curricular
ESL (English Second Language) Context and significance Relevant background literature Limitations and anticipated problems ESL (English Second Language) In many nations, there are many high school students who have parents who speak no English. Often times this can be a problem because the kids will often have to interpret for them and very often involves them to miss school in order to do this. Is it possible that because there is a constant interruption in
Such limitations seem necessary because of the limited resources that schools have and the need for students to learn English as soon as possible so that they can receive all the benefits of a public school education. Reflection It is evident that this issue will be present for years to come. The increase in the number of children for whom English is not their first language is an indication of the
The factors affecting cost are numerous and not always easily identifiable; in addition to the purchasing of bilingual textbooks and other instructional supplies, there is often a perception that bilingual instruction leads to a greatly increased workload and number of class hours, and therefore a greater overall strain on the often-tight budgets of public education institutions and districts (Mora 2006). It is primarily the transitional costs, however, that many
Second Language Acquisition Advantages and Disadvantages of Bringing up Children Bilingually Much of the debate on bilingual education is wasteful, ironic, hypocritical, and regressive. It is wasteful because instead of directing attention to sound educational practices, it has led to advocating specific "models" based solely on what language should be used for what purpose. It is ironic because most attacks on bilingual education arise from an unfounded apprehension that English will be
Bilingual Education Methods: Pros and Cons Once upon a time, perhaps, the art of teaching was relatively strait-forward. Each teacher used their own style, or that which had been handed down to them by those they learned from. While certainly a certain degree of theory has always been involved in teaching (after all, the so-called Socratic method of teaching was debated centuries before the birth of Christ, and is still cropping
Bilingual Education America is a land of immigrants and has, therefore, always required bilingual education programs in some form or the other. In fact, bilingual education programs have existed in America since the late eighteenth century, when European immigrant children received educational instruction in their native languages. Recently, however, the issue of bilingual education appears to have grown somewhat contentious. This is evident by the initiatives taken by the States of
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