Bilingual Education is a method of teaching that employs more than one language and is designed for students whose native language is not English. There are two different models of Bilingual Education; one uses both languages for instruction, and the other uses mostly English, but will fall back on the students' native language to help clarify points to help them understand the concepts clearly. This kind of teaching model is of particular concern in the southwestern states such as California, Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico because of the larger population of Spanish immigrants.
The main argument against Bilingual Education is that it has the potential to keep non-native speakers from developing their skills in English quickly enough. Consequently, if the non-native speaker is delayed in developing their English language skills then they will continue to fall behind in their education because they will not have the skills to pursue all the educational avenues that are open to native-speakers. Basically, since the majority of these children live and play in environments that speak their native language, their only opportunity for exposure to the English language is at school. When that one opportunity is taken away for the student to practice the language they are learning then their ability to learn the language is lowered. Additionally, the longer the student has to wait to learn the second language, the less likely they will develop any real proficiency in it.
The main argument to keep Bilingual Education in the schools is to promote a solid sense of culture in a growing minority population. Since there is no official language in the United States, forcing any population to speak one language or the other seems unjust, especially considering how this country was founded and built by immigration. Trends are already being developed where states with a large Spanish speaking population have signs and other literature in both English and Spanish to cater to those who only speak one language or the other. This idea supports what many feel is a fundamental idea to the American lifestyle of ethnic diversity.
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
In terms of efficacy, Krashen addresses the position that bilingual education is not as effective as suggested by its proponents. The evidence presented by this position is however not sufficiently convincing to make a substantial case for immersion programs as being superior to bilingual curricula. Krashen admits that there are still a number of problems associated with bilingual education that need to be addressed. The largest of these is the accessibility
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
Perhaps, here, the most telling words seem to be "the more intelligent class," "the better class," and "those of their countrymen who come here with good intentions." Indeed, one has to wonder which groups of immigrants would not wish to be considered as representatives of these words. Certainly, if an avocation against bilingual education will allow them full membership into a class of people who are "intelligent," of "better class,"
Ianco-Worrell (1972), for example, found that children who are exposed to a bilingual environment from an early age are more skilled at learning new words and their meanings in their first language. Of course, there are other ways to help children increase their vocabulary in their first language. However, those other methods do not also bestow the many other benefits of bilingualism. And while there are additional costs to bilingual
bilingual educated students are more likely to continue education past high school, increase their chances of professional careers, have competitive academic achievement scores, improved social skills and a stronger interest in school education programs. The government interest, certification procedures and selection process of hiring qualified teachers is critical. In this report the consequences of limited English proficiency on academic achievement, the positive effects of bilingual education, and the possible
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