Sam Krompinger

Reilly Medzadourian
Bridget Fry
Kierston Van Fleet

Video Debate Questions

Roles? Who is on the Bilingual Education side? English Only?

● Reilly Medzadourian & Kierston Van Fleet: Bilingual Education

● Sam Krompinger & Bridget Fry: English Only

Research Bilingual Education and English Only. Identify 3 pros for each, and 3 cons for
each.

Bilingual Education Pros:

1. In a bilingual program, the non-native English speakers all have the same language
background, and the teacher speaks both languages as a means of content instruction.
2. Stronger critical thinking skills & higher lifetime earnings
3. Studies show that bilingual education enhances the mind of students and makes it easier
for him or her to understand and relate to other cultures. Students who receive a bilingual
education are highly likely to be worldly and cultured.
Bilingual Education Cons:
1. Shortage of qualified bilingual teachers.
2. It is very expensive to fund foreign language programs.
3. Incorporating bilingual education makes it difficult for foreign language students to
assimilate easily.
English Only Pros:
1. Being immersed in the english language, they can engage more readily and start using the
language in their own lives. Encourage students with different languages to socialize and
learn from each other.
2. The teacher also has more control over the class and the students are focused on what is
going on in the class. Easier to manage
3. Helps students develop stronger listening skills & encourages problem-solving growth in
students
English Only Cons:
1. Teachers act as classroom cop (constantly disciplining students and trying to get students
to focus). The teacher removes their ability to communicate and the student is unable to
express their thoughts.
2. Division of time (time consuming to teach specific items)
 3. By not allowing students to use their own language in the class may cause feelings of
resentment and frustration. Without the English Only ruling, the students feel more
relaxed and the atmosphere is one of fun and engagement.

Identify 3 key points you will discuss in your opening for Bilingual Education. Briefly
describe why you believe the key points are relevant/appropriate for the debate. Do the
same for English only

Bilingual Education Key Points:

1. Studies show that bilingual education enhances the minds of students and makes it easier
to relate to other cultures. This is important to the debate because we are learning about
English Language Learners and English as a second language. If more schools
incorporated a bilingual curriculum, more ELL and ESL students would be able to
communicate with other students who they would struggle to communicate with
otherwise. In addition, English speaking students could connect more with other students
who enter the district from multiple cultures and backgrounds.
2. In a bilingual program, the non-native English speakers all have the same language
background, and the teacher speaks both languages as a means of content instruction.
This expands student vocabulary in both languages as opposed to just a single language.
This is important to the debate because the English side makes the point of engaging
more readily in just the English Language.
3. Stronger critical thinking skills & higher lifetime earnings. This is important to the debate
because arguing the point of critical thinking skills is extremely important in diving into
the college atmosphere. As a college student, you need to be able to think critically.
Teaching this to students at a young age by simply teaching a second language is an
amazing opportunity. Additionally, bilingual individuals have the opportunity to be paid
more in their jobs.

English Only Education Key Points:

1. Being immersed in the english language, they can engage more readily and start using the
language in their own lives. It encourages students with different languages to socialize
and learn from each other. By being forced to speak English, students are more willing to
experiment with the language and may become more comfortable and confident in their
language use.
2. The teacher also has more control over the class and the students are focused on what is
going on in the class. The classroom is easier to manage. Teachers can control the
conversation of the classroom, and students cannot speak behind their teacher's back in
their own language.
3. It also helps students develop stronger listening skills & encourages problem-solving
growth in students. Finding ways to communicate with instructors or other language
learners requires students (especially in the earlier stages of learning a language) to really
 think and come up with strategies that can be used again and again in future discussions.
Being able to communicate in any language requires speakers to be good listeners as
well.

Create 3 questions the English Only side will ask the Bilingual Education side during the
cross-examination. Also vice versa.

English Only Questions for Bilingual Education:

1. How do you manage a classroom in a Bilingual Education setting?
2. How do students learn English in a Bilingual Education setting?
3. How will schools get money for Bilingual Education professionals?

Bilingual Education Questions for English Only:

1. How much time is wasted on the communication barrier?
2. How do you make sure your students feel validated and understand how they are feeling?
3. How do you manage a classroom when you are unable to effectively communicate with
your students?

Identify 3 key points you will address in your closing statements for both English Only and
Bilingual Education.

English Only Closing Statements:

1. Students should be fully immersed in the English language.
2. When all the students in the classroom speak the same language, it is easier for the
teacher to successfully teach.
3. Learning to speak English fluently from a young age can help children become more
confident English speakers as they grow older.

Bilingual Education Closing Statements:

1. Speaking more than one language can be seen as a pro in future job opportunities.
2. For students who are bilingual, they have an easier time relating to other people’s
cultures.
3. Being bilingual increases one’s critical thinking skills.