Bilingual Education: An Alternate Approach

When an immigrant moves to America, he or she should be required to speak English, our national language, in order to survive; just as an American transplanted in another country is required to speak that country's national language. But sometimes, liberal forces in this country allow people to go on living here and not learn the language of a very powerful and prosperous world leader. Learning English should be the first priority of an immigrant, since it is the only way that they will thrive in American society.

Teaching young children English should not be done by thrusting them into regular classes and yelling "Sink or swim!" as the faculty at Richard Rodriguez's school did. Nor should children be allowed to go through school in classes taught in their natural langua

ge, never being exposed to English or other children who speak it. These two choices are not adequate ways of teaching the average child the value of the English language. Richard Rodriguez is an exception; he is a highly intelligent, gifted man whose grasp of the language would have been outstanding no matter what method of teaching had been used. For the average child, however, different methods need to be practiced.

The best and fastest way for an adult to learn a language is to completely immerse them in the language, putting them in a situation where they have no choice but to learn to be able to communicate. But children's brains don't work that way. At five or six, they barely have an understanding of their own native language, immersing them in a whole new one could be damaging emotionally and mentally for an already confused, young child. They must be dealt with gently and with plenty of attention. If they are to succeed in a world of heavy competition, th

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Approximate Word count = 661
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)