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Essay Subject: Pros & cons. Social issues, employment, role of parents, govt. attitude.... More...

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Paper Abstract: Pros & cons. Social issues, employment, role of parents, govt. attitude. Paper Introduction: The number of non-English speaking students in the United States has increased in recent years. Leslie, Glick and Gordon (1991) have noted that at least 2 million American students have "limited proficiency in English" (p. 56). Other estimates regarding the number of non-English speaking students are much higher. In this regard, Monagle (1991) has claimed that "close to 5 million American students do not speak, read, or write in the English language" (p. 13). In some states, non-English speaking students form a large percentage of the total student population. In fact, there are currently seven states in which "25 percent or more of the students are not native-English speakers" (Leslie, Glick & Gordon, 1991, p. 56). Furthermore, it has been noted that "all but a handful of states have at least 1,000 foreign-born youngsters" (Leslie, Glick & Gordon, 1991, p. Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. In terms of education andemployment, it can be argued that English-only is appropriate in bothschools and workplaces. Perhaps the best solution to the problem isone that accepts the importance of both English as an official language andnative tongues as personal languages. Such programs are geared toward younger students and"conducting them in English promises a quick and easy means of impartingthe language to young boys and girls" (The new apartheid, 199 , p. 365). Because ofits competitiveness, the total immersion approach forces non-Englishspeaking students to absorb the English language at a more rapid pace thaneither the bilingual education approach or the ESL approach. The English-onlyadvocates acknowledge that there are certain cultural benefits to be foundin the use of bilingual education. (199 , July 23). 16). National Review 42: p. De Mola, Y. Thus, "ESL teachers give all instructionin English; their special training helps them work with kids who start outnot knowing a single word" (Leslie, Glick & Gordon, 1991, p. Thus, the controversy isnot necessarily a question of whether America should be a dual culture or aunified one. It isbelieved that the dual language approach is best suited for students whohave already learned the basic vocabulary of another language. 15). 63). 13). Leslie, C., Glick, D., & Gordon, J. With ESL, non-Englishspeaking children are segregated from the rest of the school by theircommon inability to speak English. According toMadrid, English-only causes non-English speaking citizens to be removedfrom the mainstream of American life. Throughout history, English has beenused by the dominant classes in America as a tool for keeping theunderprivileged classes divided and subdued. There are a number of obstacleswhich are encountered by non-English speakers in a dual culture such as theUnited States. Becauseof this, the English-only advocates argue against wasting time withbilingual approaches. (1991). There are few educators whowould disagree with the importance of teaching English to non-Englishspeaking students. Furthermore, the inability ofmany foreign-born parents to speak English makes it difficult for them toparticipate in the education of their children when English-only isimposed. 364-365. This transition from nativelanguageability to English ability generally takes between two and seven years,depending upon the pace of the individual student (Leslie, Glick & Gordon,1991, p. In some states, non-English speaking studentsform a large percentage of the total student population. By extension, such children can grow up to be proficient in Englishon the job while continuing to retain their native languages in theirpersonal lives (The new apartheid, 199 , p. English-only isseen as being a more direct approach to this goal than bilingual education. 56). In ESL classes, all of the differentimmigrant children are mixed together regardless of their languagedifferences. 14.----------------------- 1 For example, some instructors prefer to teachEnglish as a Second Language (ESL). Bycontrast, fluency in the English language gives empowerment to foreign-bornAmerican residents because it enables them to understand the primarylanguage of the nation. However, with total immersion, suchstudents are kept with the native-English speaking students rather thanbeing separated. Incontrast to bilingual education, the ESL approach forces non-Englishspeaking students to immediately give up their native languages in favor ofEnglish. In addition, there is also evidence thatbilingual programs in the past have failed in their efforts to teach non-English speaking children. 56). Thus, foreign-languagestudents should not be given the impression that their native languages aresomehow less valuable than official English. Congress has likewiserejected the bilingual approach and has supported funding for immersionprograms throughout the United States (Bilingual education, 1991, p. He believes that ithelps the students to assimilate better because it enables them to workwith both of the languages that are important in their lives. Thisis clearly a more competitive approach to running a classroom. The best solution is to actually strive toward a society thatmerges the best of both these ideas. 364). Those who favor bilingual educationhave also claimed that English-only schools are detrimental to the homelives of nonEnglish speaking children. However, they also argue that "fargreater benefits might be reaped . 57). (1991). America 16 : pp. Some experts opt for bilingualeducation, in which students are taught in both their native language andEnglish. Thus, De Molaalso claims that "if one is to live and work in the United States, one mustown the common language lest communication fail and we become a babel ofmisunderstanding" (p. Those who arguealong these lines believe that English should be retained as the officiallanguage on signs as well as in schools and on the job. Such persons meet with difficulties because English is theprimary language in both the schools and in the American society as awhole. 56-57. The ability to speak in more than one language is an important skillfor all people, regardless of whether they were born as native-Englishspeakers or not. However, cultural diversity has always been aprimary characteristic of the American way of life. In Madrid's opinion, bilingual education is a betterapproach to teaching non-English speaking students. 63). The end result of suchtraining is that bilingual students become proficient in both English andthe native language of their birth. In this regard, "languagepolicy has been an instrument of control, used to exclude certain groupsfrom participating fully in America's institutions as well as to deny themthe rights and benefits that accrue to members of this nation" (Madrid,199 , p. 57). 364). (1991). This increased abilityenables the students to fit into society better than they would if theyfelt like they were segregated through their use of native languages.Thus, in addition to being a tool for increased academic success, English-only is credited with being "the fastest route out of the ghetto, the bestformula for professional and personal success" (De Mola, 1989, p. Other estimates regarding the number of non-English speakingstudents are much higher. The proponents of bilingual education point to recent studies whichhave shown that "quality bilingual programs helped students learn Englishmore effectively" than total immersion or other English-only strategies(Bilingual education, 1991, p. Thus, a problem with English-only can be seenin the fact that "many immigrant students, discouraged and turned offbecause they do not understand what's going on in the classroom, drop outof school, dooming themselves to a future of poorly paid, unskilled jobs"(Monagle, 1991, p. Others prefer the English-only approach, in which students areimmersed in the English language, and the focus is on mastering English tothe neglect of the native language. Those who favor the English-only approach point out that English isthe official language of the United States. 364). 13). 13). It has been noted that English"is the language used predominantly by the print and electronic media; itis the tongue in which government at every level is conducted" (De Mola,1989, p. The proponents ofbilingual education have claimed that their approach is not a denial ofEnglish but rather an attempt to teach it in the best way possible. (199 , March). 13). 57). Some government programs, such as Head Start, are designed with thisperspective in mind. At the same time, it must be admittedthat there are certain problems to be found in the bilingual approach toeducation. if creative and intensive Englishprograms were offered" (De Mola, 1989, p. In fact, thereare currently seven states in which "25 percent or more of the students arenot native-English speakers" (Leslie, Glick & Gordon, 1991, p. In order to fit into the American society, immigrants must becomefluent in English as quickly as possible. In particular, it is important thatEnglish be maintained as the official language of the nation; but it isequally important that foreign-language students not be discouraged fromtaking pride in their natural heritages. Even those who favor English-only inthe schools agree that it is natural and beneficial for children to remainbilingual in their relations with parents and families. Parental support isalways a vital aspect in the successful education of young children.Foreign-language parents tend to be more supportive of bilingual programsfor their children because such programs enable the students to retaintheir native languages while learning the new one. Scholastic Update 123: p.13 The new apartheid. Official English: A false policy issue.The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 5 8: pp.62-65. 364). In the total immersion method, all teachers are given ESLtraining "so that immigrant youngsters can remain in classes with theirnativeEnglish speaking peers" (Leslie, Glick & Gordon, 1991, p. The proponents of the English-only approach also point out that youngstudents are generally very quick at learning new languages. Thus, manypeople feel that a dual language culture is better for America's futurethan the imposition of an English-only standard. With this view inmind, it is argued that it is possible for a child to use English-only inthe classroom while simultaneously retaining native language ability in thehome. The Bush Administration has expressed its support for the English-only approach to teaching foreign-language students. Madrid, A. The English-only approach is given suchstrong support because the mastery of English is perceived as being a vitalstep toward assimilation into the American way of life. This failure can be seen for example, in thehigh drop-out rates which exist among Hispanic students who have beenenrolled in bilingual programs (Leslie, Glick & Gordon, 1991, p. The ultimate goalof bilingual education is to reach the point where the students are capableof communicating fluently in English while at the same time retaining theiroriginal native-language skills. In this way,such citizens are not excluded from society on the basis of language.Their dual language abilities enable them to continue functioning even whenthey have not yet fully mastered English. It may be noted that there is more than one type of method used byEnglish-only educators. 364). For example, it is often difficult to find qualified teacherswho speak foreign languages and are at the same time experts in specializedfields of knowledge such as mathematics, history or social science (Leslie,Glick & Gordon, 1991, p. In this regard, Monagle (1991) has claimed that"close to 5 million American students do not speak, read, or write in theEnglish language" (p. Thus, it is considered to be a faster and more effectiveapproach to learning English. As noted by De Mola (1989), English-only traininggives students increased selfconfidence in their abilities to communicatemeaningfully with the other members of society. As pointed out by De Mola (1989), "ours is probably theonly world power whose citizens are not educated to be bilingual" (p. English-onlyeducators claim that "without adequate English skills, immigrants will havelittle hope of succeeding in American society" (Monagle, 1991, p. Nevertheless, the controversybetween the two approaches is not yet settled at this time. The controversy between bilingual education and English-only isrelated to the question of whether the United States should be considered adualistic culture or if it should be united by a common language.Opponents of bilingual education complain that it creates a "secondlanguage within." According to this argument, encouraging students toretain their native languages results in a situation in which foreign-language speakers are kept separated from the social, political, andeconomic spheres where English is the required norm. There are arguments for and against both bilingual education andEnglish-only. As suggested by De Mola(1989): "Let us indeed become a bilingual nation by learning well bothEnglish and the language of our ancestry or of our choice" (p. T. English ability is also vital for success in schoolsbecause most testing is conducted in it. 63-64. (1989). In their opinion, it is better to immerse thestudent in the English language from the very start. Thus, it is argued thatforeign-born students must learn English as soon as possible if they are tofind success in the American way of life. However, a controversy has arisen regarding the exactway in which this goal should be attained. 364). Because English is the official language of the United States,such educators believe that all of the schools of the nation should beEnglish-only schools. Thus, foreign-language speakers are encouragedto retain their abilities in their native tongues while simultaneouslybecoming capable in reading and writing English as well. It is felt thatbilingualism enhances the cultural diversity of the United States andthereby increases its opportunities in the world market. The Education Digest 56: pp. However, thesepeople also argue that a multitude of languages enrich the experience ofthe American way of life. In this regard, "opponents of bilingualclasses believe that they slow the immigrant students' transition intomainstream society and prevent them from learning the skill they reallyneed to know in America: English" (Monagle, 1991, p. Onthe other hand, it can be seen that there are also certain problems whichexist with the English-only approach to teaching non-English speakingstudents. Leslie, Glick and Gordon (1991) have noted thatat least 2 million American students have "limited proficiency in English"(p. It has also been argued that bilingual education is better than theEnglish-only approach because it makes a smooth rather than a radicaltransition from the native language to English fluency. Thus, ifforeign-language children are taught English at an early age, they have anincreased chance of obtaining English fluency within a short period oftime. 13). ESL teachers are trained to be able to help children who arehaving difficulties in English. 63). By contrast, it isargued that the English-only approach encourages greater cultural unityamong American citizens. Because of the large number of non-English speakers, American societyhas a dualistic nature in which it is divided between demands for the useof English as an official language and the right of immigrant minorities tocommunicate in their own native languages. In bilingual education, students are initially taught in their nativelanguages. It is argued that Englishonly is more concentrated on the primary goal ofEnglish fluency. 57). Thus, it has been noted that students in bilingual programs aremore likely to become proficient in English because they have "strongerparental support" (Bilingual education, 1991, p. One of the major argumentsof English-only proponents is that "the use of languages other than Englishfragments American society and debilitates the nation" (Madrid, 199 , p.63). 13). In order to become an activeAmerican citizen, English proficiency is a very important skill. It allowsnon-English speakers to retain their abilities in their native languageswhile at the same time striving toward fluency in English. Another English-only approach to teaching foreign-languagechildren is known as the "total immersion" method. References Bilingual education. 63).In this way, it can be said that the government envisions a nation ofEnglish-only states and schools. Those who favor the English-only approach argue thatbilingual education is limited in its ability to help foreign-languagestudents master English. Through the bond of a common language, it is feltthat the people as a whole are brought closer to the goal of becoming "onenation under God" (De Mola, 1989, p. Rather thandenying the importance of English, "bilingual educators believe thatteaching students in their native language actually helps them to learnEnglish" (Monagle, 1991, p. . Classrooms of Babel.Newsweek 118: pp. Monagle, K. At the same time, it cannot be denied that success in American society islargely dependent upon the mastery of the English language. In contrast to bilingual education, the English-onlyapproach proposes that native languages be dropped as soon as possible.This approach does not believe that a transition period of several years isnecessary in order for foreign-language students to become capable inEnglish. 365). The language of power. They believe that the native language should bedropped as soon as possible and that "at best, bilingual classes should befew and seen only as transitional rather than as a crutch to discouragemaximum use of English" (De Mola, 1989, p. 56).Furthermore, it has been noted that "all but a handful of states have atleast 1, foreign-born youngsters" (Leslie, Glick & Gordon, 1991, p. One language or two? However, Madrid (199 ) has argued in favor of bilingual education andhas claimed that it is actually the English-only concept which isresponsible for the fragmentation of American society. Because their parents and relativesgenerally speak only in the native languages, it is feared that English-only can be confusing to young students. The number of non-English speaking students in the United States hasincreased in recent years. 56). . However, "as their English skills improve, more of theirclasses are taught in English" (Monagle, 1991, p. Most traffic signs and otherwritten material in America is in English. In particular, older students may become frustrated with themethod if they experience difficulties in expressing their feelings orcommunicating their ideas. If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.