Bilingualism In Education
What is bilingualism? Bilingualism is the ability to use two languages, especially with equal or nearly equal fluency. It also means using two languages in some proportion in order to facilitate learning by students who have a native proficiency in one language and are acquiring proficiency in the other language for example, in bilingual education. The use of multiple languages in education may be attributed to numerous factors, such as the linguistic heterogeneity of a country or region, specific social or religious attitudes, or the desire to promote national identity. In addition, innovative language education programs are often implemented to promote proficiency in international language(s) of wider communication together with proficiency in national and regional languages. Bilingualism in Education is not new. ... For many Americans, bilingual education seems to defy common sense and not to mention the Melting Pot tradition. Some of the frequent asked questions are what if non English speaking students are isolated in foreign language classrooms, how are they ever going to learn English, what was wrong with the old “sink or swim” method that worked for generations for earlier immigrants and isn’t bilingual education just another example of "political correctness" run amok – the inability to say no to a vociferous ethnic lobby? The English only advocates states that even though bilingual education is effective, which they doubt, it’s still a bad idea because it is threatening to debilitate the sense of their national identity and divide them along ethnic lines.