Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[cavcstudios]

If you're in ESL are you considered a biligual student or your English doesn't count as a language that you speak?

[asterix]

You are bilingual when you speak any two languages fluently.

[lotus]

Hi cavcstudios,

This may be off topic, but I hope it answers your question in part.

In the U.S., a bi-lingual elementary student is one who speaks a non-English language fluently, but does not speak English fluently. The student is taught English and other subjects through their non-English native language initially. This is done with the idea of eventual transition to strictly English instruction. There is great controversy on whether or not this method or its variants are actually effective in helping second language students in language acquisition.

One side says that transition is the only logical and humane way to learn English. The other side says that it promotes atrophy and actually delays the learning process, and that immersion (in English) is a better and more effective method.

Strangely, this idea of immersion is now gaining use in an inverted way. There are some (English-speaking) native parents who intentionally put their children in non-English immersion schools to learn English through a foreign language. Their children speak fluent English, but are put in schools where only the foreign language is used to learn English and other subjects. The idea is to learn a second language, as well as other subject areas, in a challenging environment.

This methodology may have some merit. Children's minds and learning capabilities are so pliant and flexible at their young age that language acquisition seems to come naturally and without much effort. And, it seems that no matter what language setting you put them in, they will learn.

An extension of that idea is that children (and adults) who learn multiple languages understand the structure of language better. I've seen parents place children in after-school programs (in their native language), because they believe it would help their children develop better language and learning skills.

To illustrate this point further, some say that children who have poor language skills (bad grammar) in their own language (usually at home) in the first place will never learn good English through transition (bi-lingual) or immersion (English), or any other method.

All of this is controversial and no one claims to have all the answers.

ESL students are not children (mostly). But, they are bi-lingual students in the sense that they are learning another language through transition (from their own native language) or immersion (English only), or something in-between.



--lotus
_________________
War does not make one great --Yoda