Benefits of Bilingual Education

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the many advantages of immersion bilingual programs for students. The author discusses a model used in Canada as a means of maintaining one's first language before acquiring another. Additionally, the author cites many advantages of children being bilingual, including ease of learning another language, increased language and cognitive skills and acceptance of other cultures.

Outline:
Greater Language and Cognitive Learning
Better Learning of other Curricula
Closing the Gaps between Student Abilities
Respect for Other Cultures
Other Benefits from Immersion Programs

From the Paper:

"Overall, research has shown that children in a total immersion program will experience a delay in their English language arts skills. This is normal and is to be expected, due to the lack of formal instruction in English. However, by third grade, the English literacy skills of immersion students will become equal to those of students educated in a traditional school. By fifth grade, many immersion students will surpass traditional students in English reading and writing. This happens due to a transfer of literacy skills across languages. A strong grasp of a first language provides a solid basis for the acquisition of English literacy."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Collier, V. (1994). "Promising Practices in Public Schools." Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, Baltimore, MD.
• Brittain, Fe Pittman (1991). Effects of a Maintenance Bilingual Bicultural Program on Fully English Proficient Students. Journal of Educational Issues of Language Minority Students, v8 p125-46 Spr 1991.
• Rodriguez, James L., & Others, And (1995). The Impact of Bilingual Preschool Education on the Language Development of Spanish-Speaking Children. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, v10 n4 p475-90 Dec 1995
• Lambert, W., & Cazabon, M. (1994). "Students' Views of the Amigos Program" Sanata Cruz, CA and Washington, DC: National Center for Research on Cultural Diversity and Second Language Learning.

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