The Pros and Cons of Bilingual Education
Pro:
Part of the problem both with bilingual education and English-as-a-second-language instruction in the United States lies in our unwillingness to treat English for non-speakers as an academic subject. Schools often treat (limited-English-proficient) students as a...group of helpless individuals, in need of a warm, fuzzy environment created by caring or undemanding teachers... Bilingual Education should be repaired, not replaced. Bilingual programs would do well to provide long periods of total English immersion as well as opportunities to interact with native speakers. Both bilingual and immersion programs should be held to accountability standards.
While we tend to think of bilingual education as mostly Hispanic-English, there are many Asian students who need to be taught proper English before continuing their education. This is true in primary, secondary, as well as college-level schools. As one "anonymous) teacher points out: "I have had 32 different languages spoken in my classroom over a 25-year period. Eighty-four languages are spoken in our district." (Anon 1998 1) The upshot for most teachers, frustrated by bureaucracy is to "just teach in the way you know is effective." (Anon 1998 4) That means, reaching children in whatever language makes them want to, and able to study.
Con:
The critics of bilingual education are, for the most part, politically conservatives. They feel, to begin with, that part of the confusion around bilingual education programs is their different meanings in different states. Add to that the fact that, critics claim, there is no consensus as to what kind of bilingual education is most successful.
One of the more sophisticated bilingual critics wrote in the New York TIMES: "Liberal supporters of 'bilingual education' mean well.,...It hasn't worked. The kids could have told them at the start that if you don't speak English in school, you speak the language you hear at home. And the longer it takes you to become fluent in the American tongue, the less likely the student will be to excel in academic studies..." (Safire 1998 1)
The argument also provides statistics. In Inglewood CA, "reading scores improved district wide last spring...When the state issued its first Academic Performance Index last month, Bennett-Kew (Elementary School) earned a 10 out of 10- the highest possible score..." (Gumz 2000 1)
Another survey showed that "Reading scores for the 2nd grade immigrant students in Prop 227 compliant programs were at the 35th percentile, while those in bilingual programs were at the 19th percentile. Math scores were at the 43rd percentile for Prop. 227 programs but at the 30th percentile for bilingual programs." (Annis 2000 1) Refutstion:
No one is surely suggesting that non-English speaking students, or those with limited English knowledge should go through the entire 12 years of elementary and secondary schooling MAINLY in their original language. The ideal means of bi-lingual education should be a transitional one: Teach courses in native languages and provide competent bilingual or native-speaking teachers who can give the students the opportunity to move to English only, even if it is at the student's own pace. This "Transitional bilingual education" provides intensive English-language instruction, but students get some portion of their academic instruction in their native language. The goal is to prepare these students for mainstream classes in English without letting them fall behind in subject areas. In theory, students transition out of these programs within several months.
Critics of bilingual education believe that non-English speaking students are not sufficiently mastering the English language, and as a result, low test scores prove that education is failing them in both their native as well as their second language.
There is no doubt that bilingual education has to become a pillar for the education of foreign-born students, so they can become useful citizens, and pursue careers for which their minds and intelligence can prepare them. Let's not forget that with the globalization of business, bilingual or multi-lingual speakers are much in demand. English may be our common language, but it should not be considered THE "national language.
CITATIONS:
Annis, S.: "Immigrant Students in Prop. 227 English Classes Far Outperform Those in Bilingual Education"
www.hedgehog-review.com
Gumz, J.: School excels after dropping bilingual education" Santa Cruz Sentinel Feb 9, 2000
Safire, W.: "Big Changes in California may signal shifts elsewhere" New York TIMES, May 16, 1998
Anonymous: "My Odyssey through Bilingual Education" Hedgehog Review Editorial (1998) www.hedgehog-review.com/about.html
Published by Werner Haas
A freelance writer, marketing and advertising consultant for many years, and also recently published novel THE WASPS (Available on amazon.com) screenplays and TV pilots available, also co-writer of Hungarian... View profile
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19 Comments
Post a CommentI came upon this web page because I am an educator and I’m researching the benefits of teaching a second language to children at an early age. I have read the comments made by some people and I don't wish to lash out on them for fighting brings no understanding, but I will say this "The best thing that parents can give to their children is an education". In that said; it would be unconceivable to deny your own child the chance of learning another language for the multiple benefits it has as they grow older in this globalized world. Just for a moment step back and think about the opportunities and the tools you could be giving your child so that one day they may be prepared to take on the world.
-Deseree M.
Hello / Bonjour / Hola / Ni hao / Lei ho / Buongiorno / Bună / Ahoj / Merhaba / Salaam / Jambo / Dumela / Hei / Zdrastvuite / Gudentag / Labas !!
I personally adore learning languages; as I am a native speaker of English and fluent in French, as well as learning Spanish, Italian, Mandarin Chinese, Latin, and Romanian, I think recognising languages is important. I can speak my native language (how I was raised), my culture's language (which I learn), the language of my family (in another country), the most common languages of the public (Spanish, Chinese, English), and the root language of Latin. I'm content with the knowledge that I'm well-equipped to communicate with a wide array of cultures, and anticipate learning more.
Being bilingual has many advantages. I think the young kids (k-12)take their education for granted. Many do not care. Only the willing dare to learn and most of those students become successful. Racism really cuts into this issue, Most of the kids are misled by this especially the hispanic, because they really like to be in gangs. gangs are the biggest reason nothing works because they are the ones that the kids listen to. We care, everybody that has commented cares to some point. because we reading and reacting, but how many of those students and parents affected by this issue really care. I will tell you right now they don't. many do not have sights on the future only the present and this being said how many parents are sitting with their kids right now telling their kids, education is important. all subjects, not just the bilingual immmersion classes. I have worked on many construction sites and have worked with people of all races not just mexicans. They learn to speak the englis
I believe that people should have the choice to learn a second language it should not be enforced. I agree with ditchbaby. If people are not going to write something "nice" they should not be writing nothing at all. Please stop discrimination and stop being ignorant because the debate here is about learning and educating people another language, not about other countries doing it or not...
Lauren;
I beleive that your comment was truly rude, Europeans invaded this land and forced the people here to assimilate to their ways which they were escaping from.
There are plenty of whites that receive all sorts of help from the gov't that do not need it, by the way I am white, but I do not use the system to help raise my children. Maybe you should learn a few more facts about who was here first & the way the American Gov't forced different situations on all the people that were here first.
it is true this country was not based only on english literature it was documented that in the past there where schools in california, virginia and other places that taught in other languages such as german and french, keep in mind that this country holds many backgrounds and is not only based on english
I second what Lauren says! They came here! We mostly speak English! They should learn English and we should not be forced to learn their language! We should not adapt because they are here! No other country does! Me boyfriend went to Germany and had to take a two month class whilst stationed there! That should be mandatory here for immigrants as well! Kudos to Lauren!!
After read some of these comments I canme to the conclusion that their are still ignorant people in this world. If they would look into the history of the United States they would see that English is not the United States primary language. Educate yourselfs before you are disrespectful and unkind to others. I love my spanish speaking people and have respect for others that are different form me.
It's unfortunate that there are so many ignorant comments on your article. It just goes to show that people who are against bilingual education have an ulterior motive, and that pretty much includes racism and anti-immigrant sentiment.
I just also wanted to state for the record that there is research in California that test scores have not significantly increased after adding more time in English. There is also research that demonstrates that after prop 227, kids in bilingual programs as well as English programs are pretty much scoring comparably.
Thanks for writing an article on such an important topic!
The problem is that people automatically associate bilingualism with racial issues. The fact is, we have to meet the needs of English language learners and effective bilingual programs in schools are desperately needed for these children. If we teach these children with effective methods we can prepare successful and intellectual individuals who can be beneficial to our society. If we continue to submerge English language learners into ineffective learning environments we are causing a bigger problem. They are most likely to drop out of high school and live off of government help. English and Spanish are the top two languages spoken in the U.S. and businesses find it helpful to have instructions/signs in both languages for their clients. In conclusion, we are known as the country of opportunity, and providing proper education to all our children is something we should strive to do to produce productive individuals.