Abstract
Bilingual Education is a significant part of the education system in America today. Several minority groups exist in today’s America. This increase in diversity is why these programs are vital for the education system. The students who benefit the most from these programs are those classified as Limited English Proficient (LEP) students. This is because they clearly need help enrolling in schools that typically teach in English and make no accommodations for other languages. This paper looks into the various aspects of Bilingual Education programs. It looks into the history of these programs, including how legislation has been made regarding these programs. It also looks into the challenges that exist in implementing the programs in school and the challenges that may be present for students taking these programs. The paper primarily focuses on the benefits of these programs, which are numerous, and makes a good case for why these programs are an essential part of the education system. These programs benefit students both in the classroom and outside in professional settings. The study also shows some biological benefits that students enrolled in these programs derive from being enrolled in them. This paper shows how these programs help improve students’ brain functioning as well as their memory. Therefore, it makes a case for the expansion of these programs to regions that still need to have these programs in their earning institutions.
Introduction
The world today is as diverse as ever. The United States has often been called a melting pot of cultures. Several minority groups currently make up the groups of people currently living in the United States. Bilingual Education is not simply the students taking an extra class. It is an immersive process that involves several variables. Several factors can be used to determine the type of Bilingual Education Programs that an institution will offer. The dominant language is used in that particular country, as well as the native language that the students are speaking. This helps create a classroom environment that would ensure that the students are reaping the maximum benefits from the programs that they are undertaking. One of the most common bilingual education programs is the dual language program, which involves both English and Spanish. This is due to the large Hispanic community in the United States. Bilingual Education involves incorporating different languages into the learning process. These education programs ensure that enrolled students learn basic classes such as math and English in two languages. This makes it possible for the students to translate real-life situations and solve problems in real-time in the two languages that they are learning. Bilingual Education Programs are, therefore, a more complex learning process than one would consider.
In the conversation of what Bilingual Education programs are, it is vital to understand why they are essential. There is an increasing need for people who speak multiple languages. People who can communicate effectively are vital to all parts of life, from schools to workplaces. This is why schools are increasingly having more teachers who teach these programs. It is essential, therefore, for parents to invest in the future of their children by enrolling them in Bilingual Education programs.
History
Bilingual Education in the United States has a long history. Bilingual Education began with immigrants who enrolled their children in schools to learn both the English language and their own. Bilingual Education existed in public and private schools and was subject to change over the years based on the political climate at that time. Bilingual Education started in 1839(Goldenberg & Wagner, 2015). The first state to adopt Bilingual Education was Ohio. Schools in Ohio that first started teaching Bilingual Education taught German-English. Eight years later, Bilingual Education was instituted in Louisiana. In this case, the schools were teaching French and English. The wave of Bilingual Education finally spread to the Mexican Border and expanded to include Spanish-English Education.
Bilingual Education finally spread to other states, and soon, several states offered their students Bilingual education programs. The number of languages offered in schools expanded to include Czech, Cherokee, Italian, and Polish. By the 20th century, the number of children enrolled in bilingual courses had risen to 600,000 (Wagner, 2015). The progression of Bilingual Education was halted in the World War 1 era. During this time, there was widespread fear that if the programs were continued, it would impact the people’s loyalty to their country. This was dangerous for them. This fear led to state governments deciding to enact laws attempting to “Americanize” the schools. This meant that the curriculum was English-only in schools that had these rules enacted. Some governments went to the extreme and altogether banned the instruction of foreign languages in schools. These laws did not hold and were struck down in 1923 (Baker et al., 2016). Even though these laws were being struck down, there was still a significant stall in the progress of Bilingual Education in the United States.
The effect of the drop in Bilingual Education was felt in the performance of students whose first language was not English. They needed help keeping up with their fellow students who spoke English as a first language. A widespread drop in performance prompted action to reinstitute the Bilingual Education laws that existed before the war. During this time, there was a rise in the civil rights movement and the push for Bilingual Education to be instituted in schools. This push led to the establishment of the Bilingual Education Act of 1968, a law that funded local schools and encouraged them to incorporate bilingual programs in their schools. The move started at the federal government level and soon spread to states that enacted similar laws in their states to encourage Bilingual Education.
A significant point in history was the ruling by the Supreme Court in the case Lau V. Nichols. The court ruled that requiring students with limited English proficiency was a “mockery of public education” (Kim et al., 2015). The ruling in this law led to the enactment of the Equal Education Opportunity Act of 1974. At the same time, the Act ensures that Limited English Proficiency (LEP) students have an equal opportunity in Education comparable to their counterparts. Several tests can be used to determine whether schools are following the law that has been enacted to ensure equal opportunity in Education. To determine whether schools are following this law, the schools have to have research-based programs that are sound, they should provide the required staff to support these programs, and procedures set by the school to ensure that the programs are sound and have contingencies in case of failure(Baker et al., 2016). This was the opening to the present system of Bilingual Education that exists in the country currently.
Challenges
There are several challenges that all stakeholders in Education face regarding regarding Bilingual Education and the impact on students who receive this Education. Most school structures are set up in a way that ultimately favors the predominantly English curriculum. Several hurdles exist, therefore, that make it hard for schools and instructors to implement these programs. The challenges also exist on the part of the students and how they interact with other students. These challenges include translating Education into different languages, social isolation, lack of teacher training, unsupportive school administration, excessive rules, and low expectations (Menken & Solorza, 2015).
Students receiving a Bilingual Education have the challenge of translating their studies into the language they are learning. This means they have to put in double the effort to learn what is included in the curriculum. In some instances, translating introductory courses is complex, making learning even more challenging (Menken & Solorza, 2015). Students also face social isolation when taking classes in Bilingual Education programs. This is usually because students taking these courses, especially immigrants, may choose to avoid assimilating into the culture of the country in which they are living. For instance, children of Spanish immigrants who move into a predominantly Spanish neighborhood and enroll in Spanish-English courses would likely only partially immerse themselves fully in the American community. This leads to social isolation, where they would only interact with students of Spanish descent. The lack of exposure will make it hard for them to relate to other people. The system also has low expectations for students who are in these programs. The lack of expectations for these students encourages a lack of effort among these students. This leads to an overall lower performance standard from these students compared to the other students who do not take these classes.
School administrations and the staff also need help with the provision of Education for LEP students. The first is the need for adequate training for teachers. When bilingual education programs were first introduced in America, there was limited training for teachers who taught these classes, the only criteria being that they spoke the language. While there has been a significant improvement in how teachers are prepared for learning, there is still a long way to go. Another challenge for the programs is that the school administration in these schools may need to be more supportive. An unsupportive school administration would mean a lack of resources being allocated to these classes. Some schools also need to provide an adequate curriculum for students taking Bilingual Education programs. There are also several rules the law sets aside for these programs. The excessive rules make it tedious for educators to carry out these programs. In some instances, the excessive rules are a barrier to implementing these programs in schools. While there are numerous challenges in implementing Bilingual Education programs, these challenges are manageable. All there needs to be is proper planning to ensure that the students enrolled in this program obtain the maximum benefits from their Education.
Benefits of Bilingual Education
Bilingual Education programs were included in the school curriculum because they were beneficial to students who took them. There are several benefits that students derive from undertaking Bilingual Education. The most significant benefit of bilingual education programs is their positive effects on the academic achievements of the LEP students who undertake these education programs (Bialystok, 2018). Students who are enrolled in these programs, especially LEP students, record higher academic performance in academics because students no longer have to struggle to translate the course content into their language for them to receive instruction. Teachers who teach these programs usually know the language of instruction. The poor academic achievement of children, when the programs were prohibited was a central reason why these educational programs were reinstated. The academic achievement of students will not only improve, but the parents who are also not quite proficient in English will be able to track their children’s progress as well as provide help for their children in academics when the children are at home. This holistic approach to the education of LEP students using these educational programs significantly improves students’ performance in school.
Another potential benefit of Bilingual Education programs is that they improve the amount of help that a teacher can provide to the students. When the teacher and the students are speaking the same language, it clearly alerts the teacher to any particular parts of the students’ Education that need more attention (Christofle et al., 2015). LEP students may need help to clearly express themselves to their instructors. This means that they either prefer not to speak up or if they do, they may not be able to express themselves effectively. These programs also ensure that there is no discrimination in the classroom, where teachers sideline students who cannot properly express themselves because they believe that it is more difficult to deal with them. These programs, therefore, create an inclusive classroom for the students, allowing them to have a one-on-one relationship with their instructors. In this way, the instructors can adequately diagnose and help the students in their classroom, something that would not have taken place as effectively in an English-only classroom.
Bilingual Education also improves the cognitive function of students who take these programs. Studies have shown that there is an improvement in several cognitive functions for Bilingual Education students. Students who take these classes have an increase in their focus and problem-solving abilities (Bialystok, 2018). The courses are more challenging, and they provide the required push for students to improve their cognitive functions. Students are also able to transfer scenarios that they learn in the classroom to real-life situations. This is because they effectively understand the content that they are learning in the classroom. Students who are taking these classes also have a better understanding of language as a whole and the rules that govern both native and English languages.
The benefits of being enrolled in the Bilingual Education programs go beyond the school environment. People who are enrolled in Bilingual Education Programs have na economic advantage over those who do not (Gandara & Escamilla, 2017). Certain industries require that employees be able to speak in multiple languages. Multinationals, for instance, would want to conduct their businesses in the various branches that they have across the world. These companies need employees who will be able to converse with the locals so as to reach an agreement when conducting business. Other companies also serve a diverse number of clients. Being able to effectively communicate with customers from different countries is what would make an employee invaluable in this situation. Employees who can identify and fill such needs usually become valuable members of a company and quickly climb up the ladder in these companies as a result of promotions at work. Being bilingual is also quite a valuable resource when individuals want to start their businesses. They will be able to communicate effectively with contractors and suppliers in the event that these contractors do not primarily speak English. Bilingual Education Programs, therefore, give the students an upper arm in the job market.
Another benefit of enrolling students in Bilingual Education programs is that the students who are enrolled in these programs have an improved memory. Studies show that bilingual people have an improved memory (Christofele et al., 2015). This is because bilingual people usually need to process information in the two languages that they speak. The lengthened time for processing information ensures that the information is etched into the memory of the individual. Biological functions of the brain related to memory are also improved through bilingualism. Brain health is improved, there is an increase in executive function, and the connections between neurons are made stronger by learning two languages (Spitzer, 2016). Students who study in these programs, therefore, have an advantage over those who do not, given the superior brain functioning skills that go into being bilingual.
Some surprising health benefits arise from students studying Bilingual Education programs. Studies show that bilingual Education helps the students who are taking up these programs to have a lower susceptibility to neurological diseases (Spitzer, 2016). Several studies are being conducted to find out whether dual language programs help prevent diseases such as Parkinson’s and dementia. This is likely due to the fact that these programs stimulate various parts of the brain.
Conclusion
In closing, Bilingual Education is a multifaceted approach to integrating various languages into the education system. The history of Bilingual Education shows the way in which there has been a struggle to finally get these programs into schools. However, over the years, several laws have been passed to ensure that schools implement these programs. Several challenges exist in the implementation of these programs. Both the students and the faculty face these challenges. Students face alienation for taking part in these cases. They need help to assimilate to the cultures in which they find themselves. Schools also need help in implementation. This is due to limited resources. In some instances, the administration may knowingly choose to be unsupportive. Despite the challenges that exist in the implementation of these programs, there are quite a number of benefits associated with enrolling students in these programs. Students who take part in these programs show an overall improvement in their academics. This is because they understand what they are learning better, and they have a more effective method of communicating with their teachers. Parents can also take part in their children’s Education. Studies have also shown that there are numerous health benefits for students who are taking part in these programs. These benefits are especially in terms of the neurological benefits that these programs have for students.
References
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Menken, K., & Solorza, C. (2015). Principals as linchpins in bilingual Education: The need for prepared school leaders. International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, 18(6), 676–697.
Spitzer, M. (2016). Bilingual benefits in Education and health. Trends in Neuroscience and Education, 5(2), 67–76.
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