Free Essays on Bilingual Education

Bilingual education, a preferred strategy for the last 20 years, teaches academic subjects to immigrant children in their native languages (most often Spanish), while slowly and at the same time adding English instruction. In theory, the children don't fall behind in other subjects while they are learning English. When they are fluent in English, they can then "transition" to English instruction in academic subjects at the grade level of other children their same age. Further, the theory goes, teaching immigrants in their native language puts importance on their family and community culture and reinforces their sense of self-worth, therefore making their academic success more likely (Duignan 5). Yet in recent years, bilingual education has created as much controversy as any other education issue. Most educators and parents agree that the main goals in educating students with a native language other than English are mastery of English and mastery of content in academic areas. But a heated academic and political battle is being fought over how is the best way to reach those goals and how important it is to preserve the students’ original language in the process (Adely 2). Though a fair amount of opposition exists in relation to these programs, the general trend is of support of the economic and academic advantages of the bilingual program. When schools provide children quality education in their primary language, they give them two things: knowledge and literacy. The knowledge that children get through their first language helps make the English they hear and read more comprehensible. Literacy developed in the primary language transfers to the second language. The reason is simple: Because we learn to read by reading- that is, by understanding what is on the page (Duignan 10)- it is easier to learn to read in a language we understand. Once we can read in one language, we can read in general. The best bilingual educatio... Free Essays on Bilingual Education Free Essays on Bilingual Education Bilingual education in the United States is growing rapidly. The growing number of immigrants and the need for children to adapt to American culture while keeping their culture as well is very important. There has been many break throughs and different views on which method is the best way to teach immigrants and children. One goal, which is to take place at the elementary level, is bilingual education. Bilingual education is the sanctioned use of more than one language in schools throughout the United States. In 1968 the bilingual Education Act was passed to mandate schools to provide bilingual education programs. The act states individuals who have a limited proficiency of English must be taught to speak the language. These people can be referred to in three ways. A) Any individual who were not born in the United States or whose native language is a language other than English. B) Individuals who come from environments where language other than English is dominate and C) individuals who are American Indian, Alaskan natives and who come from areas where language other than English has had a significant impact on their level of English proficiency, and who by reason by reason have difficulty speaking, reading, writing or understanding the English language. To deny such individuals the opportunit y to learn and successfully speak the English language in a classroom, denies a person the chance to communicate within society and therefore is a violation of this act. In the article New Trends in Language Education for Hispanic Students by Wendy Schwartz, she writes about bilingual strategies for the youth. Native Spanish speaking students need to stay in the bilingual program until they have a foundation that enables them to master other academic subjects. Students learning a second language require constant school assistance and effort. The schools must also convey high expectations that the student will become literate in E... Free Essays on Bilingual Education Bilingual education, a preferred strategy for the last 20 years, teaches academic subjects to immigrant children in their native languages (most often Spanish), while slowly and at the same time adding English instruction. In theory, the children don't fall behind in other subjects while they are learning English. When they are fluent in English, they can then "transition" to English instruction in academic subjects at the grade level of other children their same age. Further, the theory goes, teaching immigrants in their native language puts importance on their family and community culture and reinforces their sense of self-worth, therefore making their academic success more likely (Duignan 5). Yet in recent years, bilingual education has created as much controversy as any other education issue. Most educators and parents agree that the main goals in educating students with a native language other than English are mastery of English and mastery of content in academic areas. But a heated academic and political battle is being fought over how is the best way to reach those goals and how important it is to preserve the students’ original language in the process (Adely 2). Though a fair amount of opposition exists in relation to these programs, the general trend is of support of the economic and academic advantages of the bilingual program. When schools provide children quality education in their primary language, they give them two things: knowledge and literacy. The knowledge that children get through their first language helps make the English they hear and read more comprehensible. Literacy developed in the primary language transfers to the second language. The reason is simple: Because we learn to read by reading- that is, by understanding what is on the page (Duignan 10)- it is easier to learn to read in a language we understand. Once we can read in one language, we can read in general. The best bilingual educatio...