Students
Diary entries of Maria Gonsalez, a student who was placed in the bilingual program in Sigler Elementary.
Sept. 23, 2004
Dear Diary, Today was my first day of school. I really miss Peru. I miss my family. I want to play volleyball with my best friends during recess play Barbies with my cousins after school. Mommy says I won’t be able to see them in a long time. I had a good first day of school though. This new school doesn’t seem too bad. The lady who welcomed my mom and I at the school today told her many things I didn’t really understand, I just know that I am going to be placed in a classroom that is called Bi...something. I can’t remember the first word but the second word was education. Oh I remember now it was bilingual. I don’t know what that really means… it sounds weird. My abuelita scared me when she said that I was not going to understand my teacher…she even cried when she told me this. But I don’t understand why she said this though because the teacher I met today was really nice and I was able to understand when she spoke. She talked to me Spanish. My classmates were also very nice and I already made two new friends. Their names are Monica and Sonia. Monica is from El Salvador and Sonia is from Mexico. There were some things that were very different from my school in Peru though. When we went to lunch and recess, most of the kids did not look like me. Most of them were very pale and their hair was very very very blonde. Some of them tried to talk to me during recess but I didn’t understand what they were saying. My friend Monica told them something in a language I did not understand and then told me to not worry about it. My teacher also told me to not feel bad when the kids (the very pale ones) spoke to me in a language I did not understand and that I will soon be able to know what they are saying. I really don’t know if that’s ever going to happen though. My mom keeps yelling my name from the kitchen to go eat dinner so I have to go. Talk to you tomorrow my dear diary. |
May 3rd , 2005
Dear Diary, I just came back from the movies with my friends Monica, Sonia and Karla. My English has gotten so much better since I moved here. I can’t believe I’m able to watch an entire movie in English and be able to understand most of it. Even Mrs. Alvarez told my mom today that my English has improved significantly and that if I continue to improve, as well as I have, I will soon be placed in English-only classes. Though I know my parents would be really proud of me, I will definitely miss my bilingual class. That class is so much fun! I get to speak in both Spanish and English. It’s so awesome to be able to speak to my teacher and friends in two languages. I sometimes think how weird it is that my brain can do that. I also like it because when I can’t say a word in English, I can say it in Spanish and then my teacher will make sure I know what the word is in English. I am sure that is how my English has improved so much. I have to go to sleep now, until tomorrow my dear diary. |
August 30th, 2006
Dear, Diary, Today is such a happy day. I brought home really great news to my parents and they were so proud of me. My bilingual teacher pulled me out of writing class today and told me that I will no longer be in the bilingual program and that I will not only be able in English-only classes but that I will be placed in Honors English. I could not be any happier and proud of myself. I know that I would not have been able to get this far with out the help of my first teacher in this country, Mrs. Alvarez, and of course the Bilingual program. I still cannot believe my English has improved enough to be placed in a class with students who excel in English. I’m so excited and so happy to make my parents so proud. |
Diary entry of Esther Yang, a recent immigrant from Korea who was placed in an English-only classroom because Erickson elementary does not have the bilingual or ESL program.
Dear Diary,
Momma told me school was going to be fine. She lied. Today was the worse day of my life. I felt like a deaf person while I sat in class looking at Ms. Smith talk but not being able to understand a word she was saying. When I was asked a question, I looked at Chan Yun to translate what the teacher had said but she was immediately interrupted by the teacher and looked down after that happened. I didn't find out what the teacher had told her till after school. Thankfully, Chan Yun rides the same bus I do so she told me that Ms. Smith told her that she wasn't allowed to speak in any other language that was not English and that if she did she would have detention. I didn't say a word after she told me this... When I got home mom I ran to my room and cried until my mom came to ask what was wrong. I asked her so many questions but I don't think she had an answer to any of them. I feel so confused and so angry. Does the school not understand that I don’t understand English? I don’t want to go back to that school, especially not to Ms. Smith’s class.
Dear Diary,
Momma told me school was going to be fine. She lied. Today was the worse day of my life. I felt like a deaf person while I sat in class looking at Ms. Smith talk but not being able to understand a word she was saying. When I was asked a question, I looked at Chan Yun to translate what the teacher had said but she was immediately interrupted by the teacher and looked down after that happened. I didn't find out what the teacher had told her till after school. Thankfully, Chan Yun rides the same bus I do so she told me that Ms. Smith told her that she wasn't allowed to speak in any other language that was not English and that if she did she would have detention. I didn't say a word after she told me this... When I got home mom I ran to my room and cried until my mom came to ask what was wrong. I asked her so many questions but I don't think she had an answer to any of them. I feel so confused and so angry. Does the school not understand that I don’t understand English? I don’t want to go back to that school, especially not to Ms. Smith’s class.
The video gives a significant example of how the bilingual program can benefit students. Students from the bilingual program in an elementary school in New Mexico obtained perfect scores on a state test. The video also provides information from the point of view of the bilingual teacher and even of the bilingual students.
parents
Script of interview with Anayeli Almonte, mother of three kids who were enrolled in the bilingual program in the Plano ISD schools.
Interviewer: What do think about the Bilingual program?
Anayeli: In my opinion, the bilingual program is a great opportunity for the millions of immigrant children and to those whose parents immigrated to find a better future for their families. I definitely think it provides these children with the tools necessary to be successful.
Interviewer: Do you think you did made the right choice by placing your children in a bilingual program?
Anayeli: I sure know I made the right decision by enrolling my kids in the bilingual program. All of my kids are perfectly fluent in both English and Spanish. After they graduated from the bilingual program, they excelled in the English-only classes and were even recommended by their teachers to be placed in honor courses.
Interviewer: What areas do you think the bilingual should improve?
Anayeli: Just like any other program, the bilingual program also has its flaws. But I think it definitely depends on the school. One thing that I could point out specifically is that bilingual teachers should be completely fluent in both languages. I have seen cases in which some bilingual teachers aren’t as fluent in Spanish as they are supposed to be. Us as parents want our kids to be fluent in both English and Spanish.
Interviewer: What do you think about the elimination of bilingual programs in the US?
Anayeli: I think the people and organizations that are trying to get rid of the bilingual program are out of their minds. I don’t understand how such program can negatively affect bilingual students and their futures. I just really feel like it is some type of racism when I hear them say something like “This is America therefore English is the only language you can speak”. Also, many of the kids who are placed in the bilingual program are in the process of learning English. Where would these kids be placed? In an English-only class? There is no way! It benefits both, the students who are in the process of learning English and the students who are somewhat fluent in English but also want to learn another language.
Interviewer: What are some of the benefits children receive from a bilingual program?
Anayeli: There are definitely many benefits children receive from being in a bilingual program. Especially in this country that has such a diverse culture. Spanish is becoming a one of the most spoken languages in the US, that’s why I think it is important that our kids are perfectly fluent in both languages, English and Spanish.
Interviewer: Thank you so much for your time and opinions Mrs. Almonte.
Interviewer: What do think about the Bilingual program?
Anayeli: In my opinion, the bilingual program is a great opportunity for the millions of immigrant children and to those whose parents immigrated to find a better future for their families. I definitely think it provides these children with the tools necessary to be successful.
Interviewer: Do you think you did made the right choice by placing your children in a bilingual program?
Anayeli: I sure know I made the right decision by enrolling my kids in the bilingual program. All of my kids are perfectly fluent in both English and Spanish. After they graduated from the bilingual program, they excelled in the English-only classes and were even recommended by their teachers to be placed in honor courses.
Interviewer: What areas do you think the bilingual should improve?
Anayeli: Just like any other program, the bilingual program also has its flaws. But I think it definitely depends on the school. One thing that I could point out specifically is that bilingual teachers should be completely fluent in both languages. I have seen cases in which some bilingual teachers aren’t as fluent in Spanish as they are supposed to be. Us as parents want our kids to be fluent in both English and Spanish.
Interviewer: What do you think about the elimination of bilingual programs in the US?
Anayeli: I think the people and organizations that are trying to get rid of the bilingual program are out of their minds. I don’t understand how such program can negatively affect bilingual students and their futures. I just really feel like it is some type of racism when I hear them say something like “This is America therefore English is the only language you can speak”. Also, many of the kids who are placed in the bilingual program are in the process of learning English. Where would these kids be placed? In an English-only class? There is no way! It benefits both, the students who are in the process of learning English and the students who are somewhat fluent in English but also want to learn another language.
Interviewer: What are some of the benefits children receive from a bilingual program?
Anayeli: There are definitely many benefits children receive from being in a bilingual program. Especially in this country that has such a diverse culture. Spanish is becoming a one of the most spoken languages in the US, that’s why I think it is important that our kids are perfectly fluent in both languages, English and Spanish.
Interviewer: Thank you so much for your time and opinions Mrs. Almonte.
Specialist
Radio Script between Celene Sion from KYLT 175.5 FM and Ivonne Adams, a speech pathologist
Radio: There are more reasons for raising a child bilingual than you would think. Today I am speaking with Caroline Erdos, a Speech-Language Pathologist at The Montreal Children's Hospital on the do's and don'ts of learning two languages from birth.
Radio: Hello Ivonne, so what are the benefits of raising a child who knows more than one language?
Ivonne: Well there are cognitive advantages, so for example bilingual children have been found to have better abilities at problem solving and at ignoring irrelevant information in their problem solving. There are also advantages later in life. The adults with Alzheimer, the adults who are bilingual will tend to only begin showing signs later than the monolingual adults
Radio: Do you always have to have one parent speak one language, the other parent speak another language and their teacher stick to one language?
Ivonne: One can choose the formula one wants. So it could be one language at home, two different languages in the home, or one language in the home and one language at day care; there are various formulas. What that does is that is ensures that there is a sufficient input in each language, so for example, a child who with whom we only read in one language would not necessarily be exposed to vocabulary concerning academics or sports but if we are holding many conversations with that child in that language then we are covering a wide range of vocabulary.
Radio: Will learning more than one language ever confuse your child?
Ivonne: No, generally children are capable of learning to languages. In fact worldwide, there are more individuals who are bilingual than there are individual that are monolingual.
Radio: Should parents worry if the child uses two languages in one sentence?
Ivonne: No, actually it’s quite a natural phenomenon for individuals who are bilingual to use words from the other language. In fact, children tend to that more when they are around adults who they know speak both languages and if they do that in a context where the adults do not speak both languages, they are usually doing it because they don’t have the word in one language and they will borrow from the other language. It is not something to worry about.
Radio: Will a child who is learning more than one language speak later on in life than someone who is just learning one language?
Ivonne: In fact, studies have looked at comparing language milestones between bilingual children and monolingual children. The milestones appear to be very similar so the babbling occurs around the same age weather the child is bilingual and monolingual, first word, first word combinations, sentences…
Radio: Are there any situations where maybe it is not ideal to teach your child two languages?
Ivonne: Not that I know of, even in the extreme case of children who have language disorder or what we call “language impairment”, those children whether they are bilingual or monolingual, their languae skills will look the same. So bilingualism does not further exacerbate a child with language difficulties. Of course, the child will have difficulties learning the second language because that child had difficulties learning the first language. But to the extent that that child can learn one language, he or she can learn a second languge.
Radio: So is it ever too late to introduce a second languge to your child?
Ivonne: It is probably never too late. But the later the child is introduced to a language the less likely that child is to lose that accent. There is a critical age that is yet identified but beyond that age that’s what we are seeing. One can learn the language very well but will not necessarily master the language in terms of pronounciation.
Radio: As a parent what can you do to ensure that your child will learn both languages to the best of his/ her ability?
Ivonne: Well they can make sure that the child is getting a sufficient amount of inputs. At least 30% of what the child hears should be in a given language, If that child is expected to be productive in that language. They should also make sure that the person who is speaking to the child masters the language so that the child is getting an adequate language model.
Radio: Thank you so much Mrs. Erdos, it was really great having you.
Ivonne: My pleasure.
Radio: There are more reasons for raising a child bilingual than you would think. Today I am speaking with Caroline Erdos, a Speech-Language Pathologist at The Montreal Children's Hospital on the do's and don'ts of learning two languages from birth.
Radio: Hello Ivonne, so what are the benefits of raising a child who knows more than one language?
Ivonne: Well there are cognitive advantages, so for example bilingual children have been found to have better abilities at problem solving and at ignoring irrelevant information in their problem solving. There are also advantages later in life. The adults with Alzheimer, the adults who are bilingual will tend to only begin showing signs later than the monolingual adults
Radio: Do you always have to have one parent speak one language, the other parent speak another language and their teacher stick to one language?
Ivonne: One can choose the formula one wants. So it could be one language at home, two different languages in the home, or one language in the home and one language at day care; there are various formulas. What that does is that is ensures that there is a sufficient input in each language, so for example, a child who with whom we only read in one language would not necessarily be exposed to vocabulary concerning academics or sports but if we are holding many conversations with that child in that language then we are covering a wide range of vocabulary.
Radio: Will learning more than one language ever confuse your child?
Ivonne: No, generally children are capable of learning to languages. In fact worldwide, there are more individuals who are bilingual than there are individual that are monolingual.
Radio: Should parents worry if the child uses two languages in one sentence?
Ivonne: No, actually it’s quite a natural phenomenon for individuals who are bilingual to use words from the other language. In fact, children tend to that more when they are around adults who they know speak both languages and if they do that in a context where the adults do not speak both languages, they are usually doing it because they don’t have the word in one language and they will borrow from the other language. It is not something to worry about.
Radio: Will a child who is learning more than one language speak later on in life than someone who is just learning one language?
Ivonne: In fact, studies have looked at comparing language milestones between bilingual children and monolingual children. The milestones appear to be very similar so the babbling occurs around the same age weather the child is bilingual and monolingual, first word, first word combinations, sentences…
Radio: Are there any situations where maybe it is not ideal to teach your child two languages?
Ivonne: Not that I know of, even in the extreme case of children who have language disorder or what we call “language impairment”, those children whether they are bilingual or monolingual, their languae skills will look the same. So bilingualism does not further exacerbate a child with language difficulties. Of course, the child will have difficulties learning the second language because that child had difficulties learning the first language. But to the extent that that child can learn one language, he or she can learn a second languge.
Radio: So is it ever too late to introduce a second languge to your child?
Ivonne: It is probably never too late. But the later the child is introduced to a language the less likely that child is to lose that accent. There is a critical age that is yet identified but beyond that age that’s what we are seeing. One can learn the language very well but will not necessarily master the language in terms of pronounciation.
Radio: As a parent what can you do to ensure that your child will learn both languages to the best of his/ her ability?
Ivonne: Well they can make sure that the child is getting a sufficient amount of inputs. At least 30% of what the child hears should be in a given language, If that child is expected to be productive in that language. They should also make sure that the person who is speaking to the child masters the language so that the child is getting an adequate language model.
Radio: Thank you so much Mrs. Erdos, it was really great having you.
Ivonne: My pleasure.
Public opinion
DISCLAIMER: Parts of this website are fictional and were creating for a class. Please email my instructor with questions: wcheney [at] luc [dot]edu.
Diary entries: 1139
Interview script: 455
Radio script: 772
Interview script: 455
Radio script: 772