Infants enter a world in which language exposure is rich, intense, repetitive, usually presented in a loving manner. At this point, little is expected of them linguistically and each approximation is rewarded richly. Hardly sink or swim, except for those infants and children who for reasons neurological, chemical, or otherwise are born with conditions that prevent them from fully benefitting from this rich, nurturing environment.

Here is a somewhat sympathetic description of what it is.

I would like to know if “dual language immersion” is the same as “bilingual education”, or if it a particular strain thereof. If it is only one flavor of “bilingual education”, I would like to know how it differs from others, and what the others are.

In my mind, “bilingual education” refers specifically to the practice of softening an immigrant child’s introduction to school by offering classes in his or her native language. I am not a fan of this idea - especially for very young children. I agree with HP that “sink and swim” is preferable - although I could be persuaded to think otherwise given the right argument. But am I mistaken about the definition of “bilingual education”? Is that not how it works?

Thanks!

First, english only just makes more intuitive sense to me. Children, those young developing minds, are designed to pick up languages quickly and efficiently. Everybody in the world, whether bilingual or monolingual, learned their first language via “sink or swim”. It is the way evolution has done it throughout history, and the way it is done now. Even bilingual teachers learned their first language in the ’sink or swim’ fashion. So ’sink or swim’ has evolution, experience, and nature on its side.

Second, bilingual education only works better than ’sink or swim’ under certain hard to meet circumstances. As Kelly said, “Bilingual education can be exceptional as long as you have a qualified Spanish speaking teacher and a very good instructional model that spirals and builds upon through the years.”(emphasis added) In reality, these circumstances are very hard to meet, as I’m sure you know. In an education system that has trouble merely finding qualified science teachers, it becomes almost impossible to consistently meet the high requirements to make bilingual education work. English only, on the other hand, does not come with such high constraints, almost anybody can do it and indeed it has been done and is still done throughout our education system with good results.

Third, personal experience. I have a 10 year old brother (I also have a 6 year old brother, but he has always been in english only), and a 15 year old sister that are currently in public schools and have went through the Los Angeles Unified School districts ‘bilingual program’. Yet when you compare my siblings to their cousins, many of which are in english only curriculums, you can see the difference. The comparisons are apples to apples, as the cousins are the same age, the same economic status, the same school system, and the same family environment - being the children of immigrants they all speak only spanish in the home. This is why many years ago my dad, who is now much more for english only education than I am, had a strong change of heart and demanded his kids be placed in english only programs - he saw the difference the curriculums make with his own eyes.

These are the reasons why I am for english only education. I should also note here that while I am for english only education, I am not one of those who holds a negative view of the ’spanishization of america’. When I see ads in spanish, commercials in spanish, more public schools, private schools and universities teaching spanish, US citizens intermixing more spanish into their english, and other forms of ’spanishization’, it brings a smile to my face, not a frown. My only point here is in addressing the most efficient means for children to learn english, whether they learn another language is a separate issue, and an issue that should also be encouraged.

Remember, as bad as you make “sink or swim” sound, it is the de facto method for many other non-spanish speaking immigrants, be they Asian, European, or Middle Eastern, and they have done just fine historically and currently, at learning english. It is primarily raza that request the special treatment.

Fernando: Those damn terrorist loving democrats!

Bilingual education is as I agree with HP a hindrance for Latino’s in general to assimilate with in the nation, and hence keep a group under the control of the welfare state “that being the democrats”.

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For DECADES people like me “the hard right” where trying to get “STATE” talking with “INS” to keep out terrorists from this country.

But being that anything that smacked of securing the borders was considered discriminatory by the democrats, nothing got done “hence 9/11″.

Imagine “just in theory” a republican seeing an opportunity
When it comes to illegal immigration “using democrat tactics” to secure our southern border?

Of course it’s just a theory.