Weingarten goes on to discuss how the federal education laws do not provide enough supports nor resources for the ELL students. One point she makes is how these students must take state exams in English despite not understanding the language. I have been complaining about this for some time. Granted, Pennsylvania does not require newcomers to the state to take the Reading and Language Arts exams during their first year but they are required to take the Mathematics portion in English with some assistance including word-to-word translation dictionaries. However, they most often can not comprehend what they are reading if they are even able to read the content. It creates stress for them and for some an aversion to testing in the future due to the experience being so awful.
Weingarten points to successful models of International High Schools in New York and California to be replicated throughout the U.S. This leaves me with many questions. Why, if there are successful models in the U.S., are they not already implemented everywhere? Why are so many other countries around the world able to have successful multi-lingual programs that produce fully literate students in more than one language able and the U.S. does not? I'm referring to third world countries as well such as Morocco. Moroccans graduate high school fully literate in Arabic and French. Some of their students, additionally, are able to function in a third language.
I agree with Weingarten that we need to replicate something that is working and has proven, positive results. We are a country with many resources but for some reason are falling far behind in our elementary and secondary education. This is a disgrace. It will only benefit future generations to graduate literate in more than one world language.
It will greatly benefit the U.S. to also begin spending more money on the resources teachers and students need to develop successful ELL programs in which the students are fully literate in both their native language and English. Additionally, it would not hurt English speakers to learn an additional language as well.
2 comments:
It will greatly benefit the U.S. to also begin spending more money on the resources teachers and students need to develop successful ELL programs in which the students are fully literate in both their native language and English. Additionally, it would not hurt English speakers to learn an additional language as well.
Again, how do you justify spending my tax dollard teaching kids that are not prepared for school to teach enhlish?
I agree to an extent about developing bilingual programs that will promote biliteracy. However, in what language(s)? Spanish? French? Pashto? I teach students who speak up to 11 different languages. It would be very costly to develop 11 different and effective bilingual programs.
If there were funds set aside to promote after-school programs where the kids could then learn their native language and continue studying, then it could be possible. There are a few programs like that now in my city.
It's a major dilemna, especially with the growing immigrant populations. But, since English is the language of doing business and government I think it is most important to become fully literate in English first.
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