Bilingual Education: The Future Of America

Asylees are foreigners that have been admitted to the United States and are unable or unwilling to return to their home country due to persecution or fear of persecution. They need protection from persecution based on their race, religion, membership in a social group, political opinion, or national origin. They are capable of applying when they are in the United States or at a point of entry.

There are many aspects of the United States’ education system that many people would agree need change or in the minimal improvement. One topic under the education system that has had much controversy since it was first introduced is Bilingual Education. Bilingual Education is the teaching or practice programs of two languages to teach content ranging from kindergarten to high school. Bilingual Education programs vary in levels and languages. Some programs are designed to assimilate non-english speakers into the English language, others are meant develop knowledge of a completely different foreign language. Equally the goal proficiency of the language varies drastically. Some programs are meant to teach students the basic understandings of the language in oder to write and speak it adequately and others are meant to allow the student to reach a fluency level. One of the most popular type of program would be a Spanish and English program since Spanish is the second most spoken language in the United States. The most common type if bilingual program is intended to transition native Spanish speakers into the English language; this is way of helping kids assimilate into the American culture. However, the use of two languages established in the education system has been a controversial idea since first introduced. It receives differing support and has not been able to achieve a conclusive establishment in the public school system. The

Bilingual is a person who can use two languages in his daily life, and they can basically speak a foreign language and a native language while listening, speaking, reading and writing. Today, many developing countries are trying bilingual education as a dominant form of education because through experimentation and time accumulation, bilingual education is a great advantage for all students (Thomas, W & Collier, V. 1997). Bilingual education has a high demand among schools, teachers, courses, textbooks, and students. For example, in China, there are many ethnic groups, which are scattered in different regions. The government not only wants each group to retain its original language, but also hopes that they can communicate with each other in Mandarin. The Chinese government has introduced bilingual education into the educational system of ethnic minorities. Although developing countries face several challenges in integrating bilingual education into the regular teaching of school, there are several strategies that might help.

The topic that I will be discussing is the debate over bilingual education in the United States school system. Equality in education is an opportunity that is open to everyone "regardless of race or class or economic status, are entitled to a fair chance and to the tools for developing their individual powers of mind and spirit to the utmost"(Cochran). As the creation of The Bilingual Education Act of 1974 proved to be useful in providing federal funds "to meet the language needs of non-English speaking families"(Cochran) giving the stability for these bilingual programs to continue. This argument can strengthened even more through the data gathered in the 1970's revealing that over 70 percent of these programs were established. Usually in the regions where districts had high population of non-English Speaking families usually programs "were created in the Southwest and Pacific Coast areas"(Cochran). A issue that also arises in bilingual education is the lack of minority teachers that are present to help school systems. Minority teachers "currently make up slightly more than 14 percent of the teaching profession"(Cochran) which has been researched to be due to the salary structure for teacher to seek a profession with an increased income. Diversity has become a valued in many universities for its benefits towards higher education. This occurs when "varieties of racial, economic, ethic, and social groups interact on the same campus"(Cochran). Similar to proposition 227 that recently was revoked two years ago in California which virtually outlawed bilingual education (Cengage).

Bilingual Education In this essay, “Bilingual Education is a Hindrance” by Jorge Amselle, on Oct 1996 in Chicago Tribune, the author was success full in making me feel and realize. Amselle reminds us that Hispanic parents who have an intention towards globalization want their children to read and write in English in public schools which have started bilingual education programs which provide a lot of opportunities with new languages as well as by learning their native language to their children. The author explains that(most of the parents like to place their children in bilingual education programs and more likely to be placed in English as a second language program which develops their skills than other languages.) Amselle had used a methodology to demonstrate his views on Bilingual education, he revealed that Bilingual education nourish child’s academic and career opportunity by having proficient knowledge in English.

Educators from several different school districts in Texas, the state with one of the highest Hispanic student enrollments in the country, sought out to provide an answer to this issue. Gallo, Garcia, Pinuelas and Youngs agree that the definition of bilingual education is very similar to Slavin’s. They stated that bilingual education “is a process, one which educates students to be effective in a second language while maintaining and nurturing their first language” (2008). Not only did these researchers seek the problems of bilingual education using 3 separate Texas schools as their basis of the study, but they also came up with a very plausible curriculum that could be implemented in the state to allow bilingual education to be more effective.

Evan and Hornberger discuss about the language education policy of the U.S. and how it had depended upon the Bilingual Education Act, which was first enacted in 1968 to meet educational requirements of language minority students. As it emphasized bilingual education and provided options for the development of students’ native language as well as English language proficiency and academic achievement and how the No Child Left Behind Act is going to affect the education system in the future. Evan and Hornberger concluded by considering the potential impact changes in language education policy may have on programs and practices for language minority students.

In this literature review I will be discussing studies that are in favor, not in favor, and neutral on bilingual education.

Bilingual education was first initiated in 1968. It was a new means to educate the children who spoke a minority language. thirty-one years later the same problems exist for those children who speak a language other then English. The experiment of Bilingual education has been a failure and now it’s time to move on. The first English only initiatives were brought forth in 1981 by newly elected president Reagan. Since then the conflict over Bilingual education has drove on. Currently twenty-three states have “English Only” laws with 4 states having laws that are pending. The issue of bilingual education and the conflict that surrounds it is primarily focused between whites and Hispanics, although since the mid 70’s it’s also been involved

“Of the 281 million people age 5 and older in the United States in 2007, 55.4 million individuals — or 20 percent — reported speaking a language other than English at home.” (Newsroom) As the number of non-English speaking people in our country increases there is also a debate going on as well. This debate is over whether American Schools should offer a bilingual education to accommodate these people or not. “Bilingual Education is the practice of teaching non-English speaking children in their native language, while they are learning English.”(Bilingual Education) In “The Achievement of Desire”, Rodriguez writes about his experiences growing up as a Mexican-American student and the toll that it took on his life. Bilingual education may

Bilingual education in the United States is constantly debated. It is often misunderstood. As Freeman (2000) notes, part of the confusion is caused by the fact that the term refers to a wide range of bilingual programs and practices (p. 204). Practitioners in the field of bilingual education who have educational and linguistic backgrounds strive to implement the most educationally sound policies, programs, and practices in order to best serve the needs of the growing population of English language learners in the United States. These policymakers, language educators, parents, and community members, however, constantly battle opposition that is not always based on truths and evidence, but

Bilingual Education has been an increasingly controversial subject throughout education systems in America. The growing numbers of bilingual students in the country have provided much debate regarding the most effective way of instructing these students in traditional American schools. Perhaps one of the newest and fastest growing methods throughout the country has become "transitional bilingual education," a program which integrates the English language into these classroom by adding more English instruction throughout the course of the lesson. It has proved to be both beneficial to the students engaged into these programs as well as the teachers who

Imagine struggling to learn English because your school banned speaking other languages. One solution to this fear is bilingual education, which involved academic programs that teach in two languages. In June 1998, California voters passed Proposition 227, which removed most “bilingual” classes by requiring public schools in the state to teach all English language development classes only in English (Smith). With many immigrants storming into California, Proposition 58 overturned Proposition 227 in the November 2016 election (Hopkinson). Now, in 2017, California houses at least 220 languages, in which 44% that speak a language other than English (Dolan). With the diversity and immigrant-heavy population of the Bay Area, schools should require bilingual education for the most-spoken languages of the city, besides English. Bilingual education would help keep people in touch with their culture while accepting other cultures. Students can also avoid grade retention and get an extra boost later in the workforce.

The role of bilingualism in education and public life is a very controversial topic. In the U.S., almost everyone in America can speak English, but a majority of citizens can speak another language. America’s citizens are a potluck of different ethnicities and backgrounds. But, in the American society everyone must speak English. This requirement allows all citizens to acquire high paying jobs or a higher form of education in America because this language is essential for success, those who have a different background must discard their foreign way of life and accept the American way of life in order to be successful. I am considered as the first Asian-American in my family. My parents roots are from Vietnam. At a young age, I presumed that whatever Asian thing we did in our house, other families would do the same. In retrospect, there was a change in our daily routine. We didn’t continue doing those Asian things because we realized it wasn’t American. We switched our religion, traditions, goals, and language. My mother though didn’t switch her language to English, so because of her resistance to the transition of language, my dad and I still spoke Vietnamese in our home. I’m glad that I haven’t abandoned Vietnamese because I know now the importance of retaining a second language. It has so much social benefits and it helps you realize your own uniqueness, culture and individuality. What I also realize is that bilingualism is a talent that should be shown freely without

Schools across the nation are becoming interested in the two language system known as bilingual education. As demographics in the U.S. continue to fluctuate, ways such as bilingual education are introduced to schools. As the new educational trend continues to sweep the country, school administrations become more fascinated with the material and teachings it provides. There is, however a dispute between some school’s opinions