Advantages And Disadvantages Of Being Monolingual

In today's world, there are translators by the dozen available in every known app store. People use them to pass foreign language classes before they even consider using their dusty, brittle textbook. It is virtually unheard of to be a monolingual English speaker in 2017. However, the question is still brought up pertaining to the advantages of being a monolinguist, are monolingual English speakers at a disadvantage? Scholars have brought up the assertion that it will help them understand the English language more adequately (Source D), even to examine if it will help you think better. Moreover, they object, being able to know and understand multiple languages may be your passion and help you entangle yourself with the world. Whereas in

Everyone in America has had to learn a second language in order to obtain a high school diploma, however this ‘learning’ of a language is merely a short class that does little to tie one down to a second language. There are few students who continue to seek more and more knowledge about their intended language. Some lose interest, while others make excuses by saying that it is too hard. However, learning more than one language has so many benefits that it is mind boggling to me that more people like to remain monolingual. Obviously time and resources are a concern, but there are so many ways to learn a language that can be catered to one’s individual needs. Think about all of the people in our nation whose first language is not English.

When inferring why ESL/ELL students are at a major disadvantage in our schools, it is apparent that language and cultural barriers hinder their progress. Because so much of the current American curricula is taught based on cultural norms, knowledge, mores, and standards, our ESL/ELL students lack this prior knowledge, context, and background to expand their skills and scaffold in many areas. Since their parents often cannot practice with them or reinforce some essential skills, such as literacy, when many ELL/ESL parents themselves lack basic English and often not even GEDs or high school diplomas in the case of refugee and illegal immigrants, these students enter our schools at a major disadvantage cognitively, academically, socially, emotionally,

In recent years, a discussion has been brought forward about whether the mother tongue (L1) should be implemented in foreign language classrooms or not. “The issue of whether language teachers should use the students’ first language in their second/ foreign language classroom has always been a controversial one” (Sharma, 2006:80). When looking at the historical process of teaching a foreign language, it is observed that teaching techniques should not be based on mother tongue. The target language (TL) is best taught in that language and by the native speakers. It is widely believed that the more exposure to the other languages, the less effective the target

If people maintain their native language, then they can represent their culture and linguistic needs in government. This way of thinking about multilingualism breeds acceptance and appreciation of other cultures and languages. Finally, I agree with and enjoyed Benjamin Rush’s commentary on multilingualism. He, “expressed his concern that, “narrow-minded people,” fearful of retention of the German language among Pennsylvania’s citizens, would not recognize the benefits a German college might provide the nation. The spread of learning among citizens, no matter what their native tongues, was crucial to the cause of the government” (23) by promoting democracy through freedom of speech and freedom of language. Additionally, multilingualism works to make stronger foreign relations, advances in science, math and all other research and allows America to communicate its success to other countries, The presence of multiple languages makes America the accepting, culturally diverse mixing pot that it is

In conclusion, instruction lesson takes time and planning to meet the needs of English language learners. The effectiveness of the strategies used in the classroom can make a difference in meeting the challenge of teaching the ELLs.

This nation is a place where different cultures come together and learn to coexist. From native America, Latinos, Asians and probably other nations that are not well known; they all have something in common which they all are bilinguals. Authors Cisneros, Agosin, Dumas and Tan clearly illustrate that being bilingual has both advantages and disadvantages.

According to Szumski, some families communicate in their household with more than one language and that is preparing their children for the future. Sadly, some parents stop doing that as their children grow up and the kids knowledge on their home language begins to fade away. All countries and states should embrace all cultures and encourage the learning of different languages. Just as Robert D. King said, “The… idea of language as… something that might threaten to split a country wide apart… is alien to our way of thinking and to our cultural traditions” (Szumski 63). Dual language programs can be used to narrow the achievement gap while also equipping the students for a future in the workforce as Natalie Gross said in her article To Help Low-Income Students, More Schools Try Dual-Language. At a bilingual school, they would be teaching with one major language and also another language for the benefits of the students. With the dual language system, the teachers are educating the pupils with an education program in which students are taught literacy and academic content in English and a partner language. By teaching the students with not only one but two different languages, they are better improving their communication skills. The students are having the necessity to communicate with other cultures and other native tongues. If the students were to all be bilingual, then they could enhance their learning in English and the parents of the kids would be able to communicate better with their children. With bilingual programs, students will be able to better express their cultures and their origin. If the students stick to learning a second language, they can become proficient speakers. Having a certificate saying that he or she are bilingual will become extremely beneficial when they are applying for a job. For example, bank tellers, a health care person, or social

It is a long going controversy in American education- whether the future leaders of our country should be educated in one, or multiple languages other than English as a standard in every school. Why is the debate so ongoing in the United States? In most other countries, foreign language education is a must in the school system, not a privilege.

The world has become a global village and that has brought a lot of changes and new work positions into the market. Almost everywhere around the globe, bilingual professionals are in high demand. Also, bilingualism opens up two worlds of experience, job opportunities, literature, resources, and cultural heritage. Bilinguals have the privilege of getting their information from a wider variety of resources. Besides, research has shown that it’s easier for bilingual children to acquire other languages later in life. A study conducted by professors of the Department of Special Education of the University of Haifa, Israel showed that “students who know two languages would have an easier time gaining command of a third language than would students who are fluent in only one language.”

They should encourage and support students to the attainment of bilingual or multilingual skills. They should also consider that students coming from homes where two or more languages are used will face difficulty in applying while in the school environment. The fact that so few Americans command any other language than English is largely a result of educational failure and cultural inadequacies.

There are many benefits to bilingual education. Most benefits will help students, but some benefits will better society. Bilingual education will help students with development, performance, and assimilation, while also helping society accept diversity. In my opinion, the benefits gained from bilingual education

“Research is increasingly showing that the brains of people who are bilingual are different than those who are not, and those differences are for all the better.”(time) Researchers are saying that it's so much more beneficial to learn two languages rather than one. “Multilingual people, studies show, are better at grasping and reconciling conflicting ideas.”(time) They are known to work faster and use less energy in the process. In doing so they retain their senses longer are studies show that it can delay or give you more time to get dementia or Alzheimer's than the average person. With all of the positive outcomes of learning in a bilingual school, schools make it very hard and competitive to make it into the

I grew up studying in a private school where the only Spanish speaking class was the Spanish class, the rest were in English. Even in the hallways we needed to speak in English or they will charge us. I studied there from first to twelve grades. No being a teacher I work in a dual immersion public school where my first graders receive 90% Spanish instruction and 10% English instruction. I do feel it is very important now a day for students to be able and know more than one language. It worked for me years ago, that is why I got a job in the United States, I am able to do my master in a complete English language without struggling. The way I have seen bilingual education has changed over the years and more with the information learned this week. My school ELL teachers always emphasize to my parents to keep focusing on the child’s native language in order to become proficient with other languages. Based on her arguments and on Dr. Stritikus ( Laureate Education, n.d) it is really important to consider the students’ language in order for them to have success. As a Spanish classroom teacher I have native English speakers who are learning Spanish and as recent as this school year I had a student that stop taking books from the library because he wanted them in English. This made me reflect on my goals a teacher towards him and think deeply if I was being

Talking about “dialects”, a term often mentioned along is “standard language”. When being brought into comparison with “dialect”, “standard language” usually serves as a legitimate variant with the highest level of excellence (Bex & Watts, 1999). Though positive in nature, standardization - the procedure of standardizing a language – often raises heated controversy because of its consequences on not only linguistics field but also the society. In the second part of the essay, I will focus on the disadvantages of language standardization.