| content"> | | | | Spanish and English. He learned to speak English |
| Bilingual Education is referred as to the use of two | | | | quickly which ena bled him to interact with the |
| languages, one is the person’s native | | | | rest of the children. He graduated from junior high |
| language and the other is English that is required | | | | school and was able to enter regular classes in |
| for instruction and interaction in the United States. | | | | high school. His success allowed him to enter |
| Bilingual programs began over two decades ago | | | | college and finish a career there. Now Roberto |
| when the first Bilingual Educational Act was passed | | | | supports bilingual education by saying that they |
| in 1968. Since, English is consider the mother | | | | work and citing I am the proof. Proponents |
| tongue, schools are expected to teach the | | | | feel that the diversity of languages and customs |
| newcomers English and to socialize them to the | | | | enrich the United States culture stew; therefore, |
| American way of life. Therefore, bilingual | | | | they should allow them to flourish. One benefit |
| educational programs are designed to assist and | | | | that bilingual programs provide is that they raise |
| help limited English proficient students to adjust to | | | | students’ self- esteem. Some parents do |
| life in the United States. However, debates and | | | | not want their children to loose their native |
| controversies surrounding bilingual education | | | | language, so they enroll them in bilingual classes to |
| programs have been whether or not these | | | | maintain their language as s learning the second |
| programs should be excluded from schools. | | | | language. Although people know the importance of |
| One of the programs used in the United States is | | | | learning English in order to succeed in school and in |
| the maintenance model, where students develop | | | | society, they also find relevant to keep their |
| fluency in their native language while they learn | | | | native language. Educational supporters say that |
| English. The transitional model which uses | | | | bilingual programs are necessary to prepare |
| students’ non-English languages to facilitate | | | | students for an ever-changing multilingual and |
| the mastery of both content area skills and | | | | multicultural world. In addition, educators support |
| English fluency. The ESOL refers to the English of | | | | bilingual programs because they say that without |
| speakers of other languages. The ESL model is | | | | adequate skills students have little hope of |
| when students learn English as their second | | | | succeeding in the American society. Many |
| language. In addition, the immersion, structured | | | | students tend to get frustrated and discouraged |
| immersion and the submersion programs have | | | | when they do not understand the language and |
| had a great impact on limited English proficient | | | | this cause a great range of dropouts. If they do |
| students to become proficient in English. | | | | drop out, they do not have any choice but to get |
| Immersion is described as the second language | | | | a future in unskilled jobs earning low wages. It has |
| instruction where students have no knowledge of | | | | been said that bilingual programs are designed to |
| the language and which is the medium of | | | | keep students in school. |
| interaction. In these programs instruction varies, | | | | On the other hand, opponents say that using a |
| some can have English instruction the entire day, | | | | language other than English in school raises the |
| others half a day or even less. The outcome of | | | | possibility that other languages will be maintain |
| these programs is that students can learn faster | | | | instead of English. Opponents say that bilingual |
| to function at level in the second language. In | | | | programs also prevent students from developing |
| submersion non-English speakers are placed in | | | | language skills and it slows their academic |
| English speaking classrooms to help them develop | | | | progress. Instead they recommend the |
| their skills in English. The outcomes are that | | | | introduction of the English curriculum from the |
| students will learn faster and will pick up the | | | | beginning because it would help the |
| language if they are exposed to the language all | | | | students’ comprehension. Others say that |
| day. On the other hand, structured immersion | | | | non-English speakers learn better according to |
| programs are designed to help students become | | | | their acquisition of their native language and then |
| quickly proficient in English. This method is | | | | they build upon that base. |
| successful because students are provided with | | | | One of the reasons why bilingual programs are |
| English instructions in special English developmental | | | | not totally effective is due to the lack of parental |
| languages classes allowing them to become fluent | | | | support. Parents have been skeptic that if their |
| in English. The model mainly used in the United | | | | children do not learn English they would not |
| States is the transitional model. Through this | | | | succeed in school. However, this is the reason |
| model, students’ native language is paired | | | | why they believe in the sink or swim method and |
| with English instruction until students develop | | | | this is why they want their children to be totally |
| sufficient English to function successfully in regular | | | | submerged in the language. In addition, studies |
| classrooms. | | | | have proven that programs such as ESL have |
| According to the 1980 Census, 15% of the total | | | | been very effective to teach English instead of |
| population is language minority people. Research | | | | the overall academic development. |
| has found that the largest minority group in the | | | | One disadvantage bilingual students experience is |
| United States is Spanish- speaking people. Out of | | | | that they are not provided with the same |
| those fifteen percent there were 7.9 million | | | | treatment as monolingual students. Students are |
| school-age children who were enrolled in bilingual | | | | not provided with the same activities, textbooks, |
| programs. Since the majority of these students | | | | teachers or even an equal curriculum. Another |
| did not know English, they were placed in bilingual | | | | disadvantage stated is that they want to remove |
| programs to help them learn English. However, the | | | | ESL programs from schools. Teachers say that |
| main objective of bilingual programs was to | | | | this is not a good idea because it would make |
| provide English instruction while using the | | | | limited English proficient students fall behind in |
| student’s native language. In most bilingual | | | | other subjects, which do not require English. |
| programs students are transferred to regular | | | | Considering these issues one could decide what is |
| classrooms after three years. Opponents said | | | | the right solution for non-English speakers |
| that these programs do not work; however, | | | | students. |
| bringing bilingual education to debates and | | | | Therefore, I contend that bilingual programs |
| controversies. By demonstrating points of both | | | | should remain because they are effective and my |
| groups people could decide whether or not these | | | | husband is proof of that. My husband came to the |
| programs work. | | | | United States and was placed in a seventh grade |
| Proponents of bilingual education say that these | | | | bilingual class. He thanks that the bilingual classes |
| programs are effective because teaching | | | | existed because he says, if not I would |
| non-English speakers students in their native | | | | definitely have been a dropout. I believe this |
| language helps them keep up their studies while | | | | would have been true because being an |
| they become proficient in English. One of the | | | | adolescent, having a cultural shock and not |
| proofs that bilingual education work was | | | | understanding a new language are three very |
| —the Dominican, Roberto Feliz, who is an | | | | common descriptions for people to drop out. |
| anesthesiologist. He came to the United States | | | | Actually, he is proud of being in a bilingual class for |
| when he entered his sixth grade where he was | | | | all those years and thanks it for his success in |
| placed in regular classes. He was a student who | | | | college. I do not think is fair for students to be |
| loved school but then he got disillusioned in his | | | | put a grade behind just because of the lack of |
| classes. Since he did not understand his teachers | | | | the English language. I feel that they have the |
| Roberto fell out of place and wanted to drop out | | | | opportunity to learn the adequate skills for English |
| of school. The following year he was placed in a | | | | without falling behind in other subjects. |
| bilingual class where he was taught both languages | | | | |