Who's with me on this issue of bi-lingual education?

Question

I am thankfully, NOT a product of bilingual education....I was born into a Hispanic family, which spoke little English, since my parents were newly legal immigrants, they spoke little English at first...When I entered the public school system, back in the day, there was no bilingual education, so I had to learn English, at the time I hated....But looking back, I am glad I was forced to learn the language.....Even though I am pro amnesty, I feel it is very important that all immigrants, including illegals, learn the language and assimilate into our culture....Knowing English has afforded me so many opportunities.....I think the proponents of bilingual education do a huge harm to new immigrants by not expecting them to learn English....Are you with me on this, any pro amnesty folks?

I don't like it when I hear some immigrants say if you adopt the national culture, you are a sell out....its just ignorance....

I am not saying to give up your own culture, I am saying to ALSO adopt the nation/culture, you are residing in, otherwise, why come here? Please don't call me a racist, I am anything but!

Answer 1

In California they required immersion (not to be against minorities but because it was considered a better teaching method) and the test scores of English learners went up -to a point. It is still the hardest demographic to educate, but it is considered 'established' that that was an improvement for them.

And even the multiculturalists agree that those who learn English and assimilate have a much higher success rate, not just in school, but afterwords.

(snicker...*racist*....)

Answer 2

I agree entirely. However, in the Eastern US, at least, most schools require ESL, that is, english second language, for all non-English speaking students. Even without this, most younger students learn English within a year or two. It is ridiculous that English isn't taught more directly in schools, to all students; I know plenty of immigrants that speak better than fourth-generation Americans; it's pathetic.

It all comes down to an American ethnocentric mentality; that learning other languages hardly matters, because everyone knows how to speak English anyway. I don't think in any country other than the U.S. people believe in this concept; it goes to show how selfish and stupid many Americans are. This mentality leads many to believe that it isn't important for English to be taught directly; that it lives as a colloquialised language, and always will. Thus, they feel the language is taught in the home; this, I think, is an enormous misconception on the part of public schools.

Whatever the story is, anyone that comes here is expected to learn English; you can't expect a nation to adapt to immigrants. The immigrants must adapt to the nationals and citizens.

Answer 3

I am not sure about amnesty. IF the lawbreakers are required to pay a fine, and IF they pay back any taxes due and any aid they have received while here illegally, I might be ok with it.

As for bi-lingual education, I am with you. I think that children should be made to speak English so as to learn the language. I don't think this takes away from their culture as they would be free to speak in their parents tongue in any other settings. Knowing several languages is good for the mind.

I would encourage that the child be taught English, but would also love to see many languages taught in school since I really believe that it would be advantageous to American students to be able to speak many and varied languages, while keeping English as the primary language.

I would love to see more computer classes and art and music. Funding for our schools is too low. If other languages can not be taught, then at the very least all students should be required to speak English. To not make them able to speak English is the equivalent of not teaching them basic math. They will be unable to progress in this country without the basic required skills.

Not teaching our children the English language is a great disservice to them.

Answer 4

I am happy to hear the common sense approach to educating young, legal immigrants worked so well for you and that you took the time to share this with us all.
It is a travesty that we cater to "other" language speakers (mostly Spanish) to somehow gain ...I'm not so sure what? Flatly put, it is counter productive. It makes no sense what-so-ever, unless one considers the point of the exercise is to foster bilingualism in only those people who have just come to the USA. Not only does this put only English speaking natives that speak English and pay taxes to support the system at a disadvantage but it sends a very questionable message to everyone. It causes confusion and conflict at every turn. Mostly the children of newly arrived legal and illegal immigrants will be the only ones bilingual. When you (as the Fed. Gov.) allow the poplulation of any given state or area to become in excess of 40% illegal (or legal) immigrants to occurr as is the case in many areas of the USA currently, and encourage bilingualism, ultimately you cheat the non bilingual American (mostly younger people) out of job opportunities as many employers, wanting to tap the bilingual poplulation, only want to hire bilingual empolyees. (this is happening NOW!) It really is nothing short of a treasonous act for a public agency or government in the USA to allow or to foster this as is currently the case in many, many areas of this country.
I am not pro amnesty by any means. If you really are a citizen; that is, an American first you will rethink your choice here. What pro amnesty people will get with that choice should it come to be so, is a degraded country in terms of goods and services, cultural morays, law and order and education to mention only a few. What that means whatever your reasons may be for being pro amnesty is that you will live a lesser lifestyle, with more challenges that you may have little ability to overcome in your own lifetime and your children will be less well off for it as well.
Not to pick on Mexico but imagine the problems of Mexico visited on the USA overnight and consider what bilingualism, degradation and the rest will do to you and your legal family and friends that have been welcomed into the USA to the hope/opportunity that was once here for everyone ...and may soon be gone or degraded signifigantly to all that dwell here now, be they legal, illegal or native born US Americans.

Answer 5

No, I am not with you and this is why:

When i go to the ATM I have to chose English or Spanish, not French or German or Portuguese or Latin. When i drive up to the window at McDonalds or Burger king I usually get my order wrong because the person operating the cash register can not speak or understand me because I speak English and they don't.

When i have a problem with My Japanese made computer that's operating system is Windows XP I call a 1800 number and have to speak with Mambo or Rani Simbagao in India who can not possible do anything but frustrate me because they do not speak English.

When I run into a 7-11 store to buy gasoline I have to deal with Knocknard from Pakistan or Iran who wants to now, "How do I am see to nice today me " and he/she can not make change or operate a slurpie machine because it is not in Arabic and I speak English.

I was raised that when you are in Rome you do as the Romans. When you are in Germany you speak German even if all you can do is point. You do not desecrate a language that is native to that country because you can not speak it. We had to take language classes to learn the damn language and prided ourselves on being able to speak it correctly not bastardize it.

My children are now forced to learn Spanish in school because of illegal aliens migrating to my country and I have to pay for it with my taxes because illegal aliens do not pay taxes because they do not have a social security number and are not required to pay taxes because they should not be here in the first place.

Answer 6

God Bless you! I hope no one forced you to abandon your native tongue and heritage. It's not necessary nor should it be.
English is THE language of business, and government in the US, and should stay that way. Who cares what you speak at home or on the street with your buddies.
I am against Illegal Immigration, not sure on Amnesty. I would prefer to be against it, but lax enforcement of US law helped make it appear "OK" so the knife cuts both ways.
The answer here is to make it he "Law of the Land" that all people learn standard English in this country, AND that they master one foreign language by the end of high school. It could solve the "bilingual question", enhance our national linguistic abilities, and the Spanish speaking Immigrants essentially get a free pass on the requirement, (if they speak good standard Spanish).

Answer 7

I agree with you angel.My parents also spoke and knew little English while I was growing up.What I don't understand is how does the ESL programm nowadays work?I took ESL when i first was in school and from what i recall it was a programm that taught you how to speak English and made transition into the school system easier.Now from what I hear it caters to teaching classes in their language?If that's the case then I think the problem is the ESL programm,and I do think it harms new immigrants.Someone's native language should be taught and learned in the home with the parents.That's how I learned Spanish.And the only reason it should even be used in school is to help new immigrants transition from that language to English.

Answer 8

I Gotta AGREE With You On This One angela R

It Has Been PROVEN
By MILLIONS Of Immigrants
In The Past And Present

Comprehensive English
(Read, Write, Speak)
Can Be Learned Within 18 Months
IF The Student (Any Age) WANTS To Learn It

Secure The Borders
NO AMNESTY
DEPORT ALL ILLEGAL ALIENS UPON DISCOVERY

Answer 9

I agree with you, even if you live in Mexico. Schools put a big emphasis teaching it and the importance of learn it.a lot of books are written in English and once you finish school, the best jobs are available for bilingual people, it is inconceivable to be a manager and not to know English it is a sign of education and perseverance. if that is for the Mexican at Mexico imagine what can you expect of those that live in USA, school is the best place to learn it.

Answer 10

I'm for english-only education, through 8th grade, start teaching foreign languages then. A good foundation in english is very important, because it's become the international language of business. If you want your kid to be successful, he/she needs to learn english, period.