When compared to many other countries, America is far behind on language skills, especially knowledge of a second language. ... Knowledge of a second language greatly improves cognitive skills. Therese Sullivan Caccavale, president of the National Network for Early Language Learning, states: "Children who learn a foreign language beginning in early childhood demonstrate certain cognitive advantages over children who do not.... Knowledge of a second language can help improve foreign relations. ... Learning a second language helps people find a higher income job. ...

• Word Count: 1246
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

While in most European countries foreign languages are introduced at the elementary school level (mostly English but followed by a mandatory second foreign language later on), foreign languages in many American schools are actually only offered after 7th grade. ... Being young when acquiring language, whether it be the first or a second language has many advantages. ... The last big option for second languages in elementary schools are FLEX programs (Foreign Language Exploratory), where foreign language is studied in a more general sense once or twice a week. Students learn about the language...

• Word Count: 1180
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Abstract As long as languages appear, there have also been cultures. ... Key words: Language, Culture, English Language Teaching (ELT) Culture and English Language Teaching Introduction It is an undeniable fact that to understand a language completely, it is essential to master not only the language knowledge including grammar, lexis and phonology but also certain features of culture. ... Secondly, culture in the aspect of sociology refers to the way of life in the target community, consisting of the structure of different institutions from national health system to the family and the interpe...

• Word Count: 2477
• Approx Pages: 10
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Some bilingual programs are designed to develop full bilingualism, or the ability to use two languages proficiently; others use the native language to facilitate the acquisition of English. ... Keywords Bilingualism; Developmental Bilingual Education; Dual Language Immersion; English Language Learners; English Only; Linguistically Different Learners; Transitional Bilingual Education; Heritage Language; Sheltered Content Instruction Overview The education of "bilingual" students in the U.S. has always been closely tied to political, economic and social concerns. ... Various waves of immigration...

• Word Count: 1190
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

To help successfully develop and implement this program the school district assembled a professional development team consisting of district personnel, faculty from local universities, ELD and science educators, and professional development experts from a national, nonprofit education research and service agency. ... Students that are having a hard time understanding language need something that they can relate to. ... This theory leads to Krashen's theory of the language a student encounters must include language structures that the learner already knows (i) plus new structures (i + 1) i...

• Word Count: 770
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

To help successfully develop and implement this program the school district assembled a professional development team consisting of district personnel, faculty from local universities, ELD and science educators, and professional development experts from a national, nonprofit education research and service agency. ... Students that are having a hard time understanding language need something that they can relate to. ... This theory leads to Krashen's theory of the language a student encounters must include language structures that the learner already knows (i) plus new structures (i + 1) i...

• Word Count: 770
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

On the other hand there are those who claim it leads to a national disunity. ... Should non-English speakers be taught using their native language, English or both languages? ... Proponents like of English-only argued that bilingual lead to national disunity ethnic group isolation and even encourage economic disparities between the rich and the poor (Mujica, 508). ... Since United States does not have a national language officially recognized, some groups in the United States believe that the presence of foreign languages poses as threats to the traditional English language. ... Hayakawa; ...

• Word Count: 1615
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

In 1997, The National Clearinghouse for Bilingual Education reported their findings from a study on Parent Characteristics: Influence in the Development of Bilingualism in Young Children. ... However, the study also illustrates the potential loss of the native language other than English by both the bilingual children and the parents striving to develop two languages. ... In addition to enrolling the children in pre-school activities, parents engaged in three forms of language related strategies: academic tasks, audiovisual activities that exposed children to speakers of the target language,...

• Word Count: 591
• Approx Pages: 2
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

In Inner Circle countries such as the US, the 'English Only' movement, which insisted that America had only 'room for one language' aimed to 'subtract rather than add a language' (Jenkins 105), forcing L2 English learners to either 'sink or swim'. ... National governments give biased preeminence to selected Inner Circle varieties as the only standard of English, considering local varieties 'deviant' forms (Jenkins 152). ... Other politically-driven educational policies have grown out of misguided beliefs of governments about local language...

• Word Count: 1481
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Or words from one language may convey a message that is not easily translated into the other language. ... Will Using Two Languages Cause Speech Language Problems? ... Some people believe that if a second language is introduced before the first language is fully developed, the development of the first language may be slowed or even regress. ... Parents who are concerned about their child's speech-language development should contact a speech-language pathologist. ... People may become bilingual either by acquiring two languages at the same time in childhood or by learning a second lang...

• Word Count: 5919
• Approx Pages: 24
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

One language does not have to be sacrificed in order to acquire a new language. Both languages (original and new) can be seen as complementary and not as substitutes for one another, therefore creating a stronger bond between languages. ... I support bilingual education because it can be an effective pathway for foreign language speakers to learn the English language. ... Dorfman was able to learn and master both languages. ... I was able to experience life in two languages. ...

• Word Count: 2018
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Bilingual Education is defined as any school program that uses two languages. ... Two-way bilingual programs, also called developmental bilingual programs, group language minority students from a single language background in the same classroom with language majority, English-speaking students. Ideally, there is a nearly 50/50 balance between language minority and language majority students. ... Native English speakers and speakers of another language have the opportunity to acquire proficiency in a second language while continuing to develop their native language skills. ... English immersion...

• Word Count: 2662
• Approx Pages: 11
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Other supporters argue that a working knowledge of two languages serves as useful preparation for a student's years after high school. ... Without the use of their native language, they don't have a base to build on."" ... Since the implementation of the Bilingual Education Act of 1968, school districts across the nation have created programs that allow non-English speaking students to participate in intensive English language courses while learning other subjects, such as math, history, and science, in their native languages. ... Therefore, a major part of many bi-lingual educat...

• Word Count: 4836
• Approx Pages: 19
• Grade Level: Undergraduate