Chloe Schubert and Alley Colecchia

Bilingual Education

1. Bilingual Education Pros and Cons

2. 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.

a. Bilingual education refers to teaching academic content in two languages. One

language as your native language and the second language as a secondary

language. So the teacher is teaching lessons in two different languages. These

programs are to assist English and non-english speaking students to learn how to

read and write in a second language. Most students in the U.S are enrolled in a

50/50 english and spanish speaking class. Bilingual education is not popular in the

United States, but research has shown that non-English speaking students taking

advantage of these programs effectively learn how to write and speak in English.

This is important for the debate because it introduces what a bilingual education

is.

b. There are many ways a bilingual education works. These programs are usually

made for ELL students transitioning from their native language to english. The

traditional bilingual education involves partial or all of the students' home

language when they first enter the class. Eventually, transitioning to the language

the school is using. The main goal is transitioning students to only english

classrooms. Another bilingual education approach is maintenance bilingual

education. This is when the classroom teacher uses a mix of the students native

language to the school's language. They will teach lessons half and half. This is
 important for the debate because it explains different approaches to a bilingual

education.

c. Bilingual education gives ELL students the opportunity to learn grade-level

academic skills in their native language until they have acquired enough language

to achieve academically in English. These classes allow students to become active

learners in a society. Helps them prepare for their future.

3. Create 3 questions the Bilingual Education side will ask the English Only side during the

cross examination

a. What if a child who speaks english comes from a home with parents who do not

speak English, how do you think an educator should approach that child if they do

not get educational support at home?

b. Do you find students in only english classrooms struggle with their second

language required class?

c. What do you do in an English only classroom where the child is unable to

communicate what they are thinking to you, to the level of frustration?

d. Do you have to constantly remind your ELL students to try speaking in English or

do you allow them to speak their native language?

e. Do you run out of time or patience trying to convey small ideas to a student using

only English, when it would be more efficient to teach them in their native

language?

4. Identify 3 key points you will address in your closing statements Bilingual Education.

a. Children who are exposed to a bilingual education are more adaptable. A

bilingual education allows children to view and learn about different cultures and
 races. This world is always changing and we now see people from all over the

world. People who have been exposed to other cultures and are aware of

differences will be more accepting and adaptable to the changing world. This is

extremely important because as students who are in these bilingual classes get

older, they will encounter all different types of people in their job field. Having

the opportunity to be exposed to different people at a young age will help them

adapt for future jobs. For example, teachers. If a student is in a bilingual

classroom, that student is being exposed to the teaching methods that are done for

another child. So, if that student decides to pursue teaching later on, they will

have the knowledge and first hand experience of a bilingual classroom, which will

benefit the bilingual child in the classroom.

b. Most schools require students to take a second language class. A lot of

highschools require at least 2 years of a second language for a graduation

requirement. Being exposed to a bilingual classroom at a young age will help

students succeed in future 2nd language class. When a child is exposed to a

different teaching and learning style at a young age, that will stick with them for

the future. Students in their schools required 2nd language classes to succeed

more if they were in a bilingual classroom growing up because they were already

exposed to different languages and learning styles. This is important because

almost every single school in the U.S requires a 2nd language class. In the article

The Evadocate by Mattrew Lynch, he states, “Foreign language requirements

have long been a core requirement for high school graduation and are also part of
 most arts-based college degree programs”. This will help students succeed in

schools which can assist their success for future careers.

c. Every child learns differently. This can be a very beneficial way for a child to be

exposed to different things and learn new things. If a child is put in a bilingual

classroom at a young age, they will normalize situations like that.

Amanda Benko and Christiana Wood

English Only Approach

1. English Only Approach Pros and Cons

a. Pro → speaking English only in class helps develop listening skills in ELL

students. This then caters to development of communication skills.

b. Pro → by making English the only medium of communication in the

classroom, it encourages problem solving skills among the students. ELL

students have to find new ways of communicating with educators and peers.

c. Pro → this method is often easier to manage in the classroom, particularly

when the educator is trying to communicate with students.

d. Con → students may feel uncomfortable in an English Only Approach which

may affect their learning process negatively.

e. Con → beginner students may struggle with learning simple language points

in an English Only environment and may struggle following oral directions.

 f. Con → by using an English Only approach, the educational process may be

slowed down. It can be difficult for learners to get an in-depth analysis of

different topics if only English is being used.

2. Identify 3 key points you will discuss in your opening for English Only Approach.

a. The English Only Approach is an immersion method that is designed so students

only speak English within the classroom. This method originates as far back as

the 1940s, and has been a popular technique used in many schools across the

country. In this method, students are expected to only speak English as soon as

they enter the classroom. By doing this students become completely immersed in

the English language as they are surrounded by it and expected to speak it to the

best of their ability. This approach encourages problem solving skills among

students as they need to find a way to be able to communicate with their teacher

and peers while they are still learning concepts of the English language.

b. By only speaking English in the classroom, it acts as a unifier for students. In

today’s world, schools are very diverse in their student body. There are many

students who come from other countries and bring many different languages and

customs with them. It is up to educators to not let this act as a divide amongst

students, but instead use it to bring students together. One of the many advantages

to the English Only approach is that it acts as a unifier for students. By doing this,

teachers are more easily able to manage all the different languages they face in the

classroom. Furthermore, using an English Only approach in the classroom also

acts as a unifier because it encourages more social interaction between ELL and
 general education students as this approach can help overcome language barriers

in social settings.

c. It is argued that one of the best ways to learn a language is to completely immerse

yourself in it. By using an English-Only Approach, students are completely

surrounded by the language from both their teachers and their peers. It is believed

by many professionals that students will learn English quicker if they are required

to only speak that language. When students are placed in a situation where they

must find a way to communicate in the English language, they are more likely to

pick up the language quicker and use it in their daily lives.

3. Create 3 questions the English Only side will ask the Bilingual Education side during the

cross examination.

a. How should a general education teacher manage a bilingual approach if there are

many different languages being spoken in their classroom?

b. How does using a bilingual approach affect social interaction? Is it hard for ELL

students to interact with their only-English-speaking peers?

c. By using a bilingual approach, approximately how long does it take for students

to become proficient in the English language?

4. Identify 3 key points you will address in your closing statements for English Only.

a. An English Only approach is effective because it immerses the students into the

language, encouraging them to problem solve as they learn to communicate in

English. An English Only approach leads to students being creative in how they

communicate and express themselves in the classroom. It is believed by many

 professionals that students learn English quicker if they are required to only speak

that language while in the classroom.

b. Students will learn to speak English by speaking English in the English Only

Approach. The only way to become fluent in a language is by being immersed in

the language.

c. Allowing students to speak other languages distracts them from the task of

learning English. Students who do not speak only English typically are not

thinking in English. Speaking only in English helps students begin speaking

English internally. Linguistics suggest it is better to use the language you are

trying to learn, rather than your first language to avoid interference of habits in

your first language (Crawford, 2004). Trying to understand English by translating

back to your own language isn’t always helpful and can lead to misunderstanding.