Tag Archives: esl

Are English Language Only Laws Really Helpful?

For those of you who are not familiar with English Language Only Laws, it is a hot button in bi-lingual education. Should children whose primary language is not English, be required to speak only English not just in class, but anywhere on school property? The law includes time on the playground, time at lunch, and during after school programs. A student cannot ask questions in Spanish nor can his teacher’s translate for him, nor can they have Spanish/English materials in their classrooms (think of those number lines that have “one” on top and “uno” on the bottom.) On the outset, … Continue reading →

Something to Talk About – Foreign Languages in American Schools

Did you know that more than 200 million children in China study English, a compulsory subject in primary school? How many American children in primary school study any second language at all? If you guessed not many, you are right. There are 54 million elementary school children in the United States. Only 31% of American elementary schools, including both public and private schools, report teaching foreign languages at all. Of those who teach languages, 79% of the programs are just an introduction – they are not designed to help children become fluent in the language. But hey, we can have … Continue reading →