Video Debate Questions

3 Student Debate

● Bilingual Education: Grace Dabulas

● English Only: Jess Paldino
● Mediator: Clare McGrade

Bilingual Education:

Pros:

1. Improves Memory– children learning two languages simultaneously have better

memories and are more cognitively creative than single language-speaking.
Stretch their memory and increase its capacity to accommodate varied
information at the same time.
2. Enhanced Cognitive skills– boost the mind’s capability of reasoning, learning,
and analyzing. More divergent and creative thinking
3. Academic Excellence– there is evidence that bilinguals have the edge in
cognitive ability, social interaction and communication skills. Requirement of the
brain to be very flexible correlates strongly with strong memory and problem-
solving ability
4. Cultural Benefits– students who learn a second language are more open minded
towards other cultures, while also having a greater appreciation for their own
culture. Interact with a variety of people and understand people. This helps
maintain harmony and lessen racism.Can learn languages through songs, movies,
etc and bilingual children can communicate with more people.
5. Improves linguistics: better understand how language itself works and learn
other languages more quickly and easily. Develop a greater vocab size and
achieve better communication skills in their native language

Cons:

1. Unavailability of teachers and resources– teachers who can handle the intense
strain with managing bilingual students. For bilingual education to be effective it
must be immersive. Teachers should be fluent in both languages.These teachers
must have patience but firm expectations.
2. Lack of funds– bilingual education is costly , lack of budget to promote bilingual
training. Many schools can only afford a single-language program.
3. Shift in a students focus: Students may struggle with the second language
acquisition which takes away focus from progressing and achieving further in
their first/native language. Struggle to keep up with their course work.

English only:

Pros:

1. Easier to manage– more focus on improving English skills, no disruptions. This

also helps the teacher not have to learn or develop a new language fully. Instead
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they could fully dive into the learning of English for all the students. There is also
no
2. Better communication skills - Students will be able to ask and answer questions
in English only will allow the student to further her/his english more rapidly
3. Better engagement: The students are more engaged and instead of chatting with
their friends in their native language they are focused on trying to comprehend
what we are learning.
4. Helps the Funds for the School- Money is one of the driving reasons for schools
to do or not to do something. Having a bilingual teacher is pricey.

Cons:

1. Discourages culture and presents differences as negative - The student might

feel like they cant express their own culture
2. Conflict– frustrations and resentment, ELL students have a hard time adapting in
English only classrooms. They feel pressure to never speak in their language
3. English is difficult to learn- English is one of the hardest languages to learn so if
learning in their native language helps them transition.

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 Opening

1. Improves Memory
2. Enhances cognitive skills
3. Cultural Benefits

English Opening

1. Easier to manage classroom

2. Better Engagement
3. Funds/Money

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

English only:

1. What are the cultural benefits of bilingual education?

2. How does a bilingual education support students academically?
3. How does a bilingual education hinder students?
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Bilingual:

1. How are students' identity/cultural background hindered?

2. Why do you think an English only education is more beneficial than bilingual?
3. What are the academic benefits of an English only education?

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

English Only
1. While Bilingual education has proven to have cognitive benefits it also has shown to slow
down English as their first language education. In districts that do not have the funding
for ESL teachers in the classrooms for bilingual education teachers are forced to take
time from the already packed curriculum to clarify and check in with ELL students. This
is in addition to the expectation that all students are being challenged within the
classroom.
2. It is unrealistic to ask teachers to learn another language to aid their ELL student enough
for them to succeed within the classroom. Teachers should be patient and practice
cultural relativism in order to support the ELL students progress. However, learning
about new cultures and languages takes time away from the classroom that in many cases
is not there in the first place.
3. In English only classroom ELL students are essentially forced to pay closer attention to
the lessons as they are fully immersed in a relatively new lesson. This can increase
progress as they are solely focused on English since that is the language that needs
instruction from a teacher. Students are sent to school to learn what is unknown to them,
so teaching new concepts will make their time in public schooling more effective and
well worth it.
Bilingual Education
1. While Bilingual education costs more money it is proven to be effective for both ELL
students and English as their first language students to learn two languages. Learning
multiple languages strengthens students' cognitive problem-solving skills while also
teaching cultural diversity.
2. As the world becomes more interconnected the more we integrate different cultures and
create adversity the more capable students will be in the real world when faced with new
cultures and languages. Continuing to try to create more inclusive learning environments
will break down barriers between cultures creating a more cohesive generation that can
find creative ways to work together regardless of their culture and native language.
3. ELL students will be more comfortable in an environment that incorporated their native
language as well as their culture.