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Bilingual Education

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Bilingual Education vs. ESL Instruction: What's the Difference?
When ESL students enter the school system they are given a Home Language Survey which is used to identify the potential students that may be eligible for the ESL program. Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills (BICS) and Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency (CALP) are used to assess each Limited English Proficient (LEP) student. BICS is the language we need in order to be able to socialize in a social setting. CALP is the language needed for a student to read, listen, speak, write and understand in all subject areas in school. Teachers can also use informal assessments, which can be viewed as ongoing assessments, as a tool to target specific problems of areas, make the necessary adaptions to the student’s lessons, and give them availability to intervene with each student consistently. The primary goal of both English as a second language (ESL) instruction and bilingual education is to teach English each program just go about it in two different manners.
English as a second language and bilingual education share the same focus of teaching students English, they are two different programs which some differences in how the class is conducted. English as a second language (ESL) instruction is used primarily in the Tennessee school systems. The ESL program is designed to teach children in English. Most of all their lessons and instructions will be provided primarily in the English Language and each student does not have to have the same native language. ESL programs can be designed in a variety of methods such as pull-outs, class periods, or resource centers. Pull-outs, which is generally used in the elementary educational level is when the student is pull-out of their regular classroom in order to receive some ESL help. Class periods is something I have seen in the middle and high school level when the student is helped during a class period. I have never seen ESL done as a resource center which is a variation of the pull-out, but there is a variety of students with a variety of instructions and experiences. In this type of setting the student may be out of their regular class for more than one subject or class period. The lack of the native language being used and how ESL can be conducted demonstrates some of the differences between bilingual education and ESL.
Lau verses Nichols (1974) contributed to the spread of bilingual education, because not providing a student with an equal opportunity to be educated because of their lack of English is a discrimination because of their Limited English proficiency (LEP). Therefore, bilingual education uses the student native language and English in the classroom to teach a full curriculum. When instructions are given in the bilingual classroom they can be given in the student’s native language as well as English. Another difference between the bilingual educational classroom and the ESL classroom is the dynamics of the make-up of the classroom. In the bilingual classroom the class may consist of all ELL students, but can also include native English students who is learning a second language according the NABE.
There are different types of bilingual educational programs. The transitional educational program is the most common type and is usually offered to the ELL in the elementary grades. In the transitional program the student may receive some of their native language so they want fall behind in their content learning all while they are learning English. Another type of program is called maintenance, developmental, or late-exit bilingual education and is similar to the transitional educational program. Dual language or two-way immersion is a third type of bilingual education program. In this program ELL and English-speaking students are enrolled in the same program. Instructions in this program are given in two languages.
As I read several articles I begin to believe that bilingual education is still being taught in schools or at least in the schools were they have the highest numbers of non-English speaking students. However, most public schools in the United States uses the ESL instruction in our school systems. Funding is provided on the federal and state level of government through grants. There is some private funds available to help student provide the resources hat is needed in an ESL or bilingual educational classroom. However both the ESL and the bilingual classroom share some common goals, to foster academic achievement, and most of all to teach English. The ultimate goal of both ESL and bilingual education is to provide educational opportunities that will enable all ELL students to be independent learners, successful in the classroom, and a productive member of society.
On conclusion, I begin to think of what way I think would be the best, I would have to say that they both have some advantages. Bilingual education allows the student to learn content material all while learning English, because they can learn content knowledge in their native language. However this method will require two teachers, a native language of the students and a teacher that is proficient in English. ESL only focus on English and only requires a teacher who is proficient in English. So it would be cheaper to just do ESL. However, I am going to lean towards the ESL instruction because I think we want them to embrace their native language and cultural but our ultimate goal is to promote English. Work Cited
Colorado, Colorin. “Using Informal Assessments for English Language Learners.” Colorin Colorado: Helping Children Read and succeed! (2007). Web. 11 November 2014. http://www.colorincolorado.org/educators/assessment/informal/
Cortez, Albert. “Insufficient Funding for Bilingual Education in Texas.” Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA). Web. 8 November 2014. http://www.idra.org/IDRA_Newsletter/February_2004_Self_-_Renewing_Schools_Fair_Funding_for_the_Common_Good/Insufficient_Funding_for_Bilingual_Education_in_Texas/
Dane, Brandon. “What is the Difference Between Bilingual Education and ESL?” ehow. Demand Media, n.d. Web. 12 November 2014. http://www.ehow.com/info_8713120_difference-between-bilingual-education-esl.html
“English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement Act.” U.S. Department of Education. Web. 12 November 2014. http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/pg40.html#sec3102
“ESL Program Policy 3.207.” Tennessee State Board of Education. Web. 12 November 2014. <
Garcia, Georgia. “Bilingual Education.” (2009). Web. 9 November 2014. http://www.education.com/reference/article/bilingual-education/
“What is Bilingual Education?” National Association or Bilingual Education (NABE). n.d. Web. 8 November 2014. .

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