Hello,
A teacher friend of mine said there was a great need for bilingual teachers in our area. I've been thinking of trying to shift into teaching as a career, and he said that with my Spanish skills I'd have no trouble getting certified.
I have some teaching experience in ESL, and my question is: What is the difference between bilingual education and ESL? Is your goal to teach in both English and (in this case) Spanish hoping to eventually wean students off their native tongues? Is it like a regular general education class only in Spanish? Can anyone recommend any good books for a neophyte?
I want to avoid looking like a dunce when I go in for assessment/interview. Help!
What is bilingual ed?
Moderators: Dimitris, maneki neko2, Lorikeet, Enrico Palazzo, superpeach, cecil2, Mr. Kalgukshi2
I think you must differentiate between bilingual people and bilingual education.
The purpose of ESL is to make people bilingual in one language plus English (as a second tongue). This does not mean students who have passed an ESL test are perfectly bilingual or capable of attending class in their second tongue. Some may very well be proficient enough (for instance in former colonies, i.e. Singapore where English is virtually nobody's first tongue yet it is everybody's language in communications). Needless to say that in Singapore students use English as a medium of instruction. Go to China, and the differentiation between ESL and EFL is blurred although it is qauite obvious that English is an EFL, not ESL.
Bilingual education, on the other hand, implies that a school or an education system may use two languages simultaneously in its instruction. This occurs mostly in bilingual societies. Some may have separate universities for the different language communities, although some facilities may be shared. some more esoteric subjects may not attract enough students from one language group, so it is open to speakers of other languages provided they can follow instruction in the medium of instruction. Such universities are common in Europe - Belgium, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe with their many minority groups.
In parts of Asia, bilingual education is a very elitist fact of life, with students learning certain subjects in English (geography, world history, maths, economics), while other subjects are taught in their mother tongue. This model was common in Hong Kong, then, after 1997, it was cut back to some extent. It has become en vogue in mainland China of late, although the central government does not encourage people to enrol at such schools.
Interestingly, 'minorities' in the PRC are taught bilingually: In Chinese (in Tibet, East Turkestan/Xinjiang). and in their first language, although the latter clearly is on the wane!
In the USA, I suppose bilingual schools are for the predominantly Spanish-speaking migrant groups in California. From what I have read, 'bilingualism' seems to be a hyperbole in many cases.
The purpose of ESL is to make people bilingual in one language plus English (as a second tongue). This does not mean students who have passed an ESL test are perfectly bilingual or capable of attending class in their second tongue. Some may very well be proficient enough (for instance in former colonies, i.e. Singapore where English is virtually nobody's first tongue yet it is everybody's language in communications). Needless to say that in Singapore students use English as a medium of instruction. Go to China, and the differentiation between ESL and EFL is blurred although it is qauite obvious that English is an EFL, not ESL.
Bilingual education, on the other hand, implies that a school or an education system may use two languages simultaneously in its instruction. This occurs mostly in bilingual societies. Some may have separate universities for the different language communities, although some facilities may be shared. some more esoteric subjects may not attract enough students from one language group, so it is open to speakers of other languages provided they can follow instruction in the medium of instruction. Such universities are common in Europe - Belgium, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe with their many minority groups.
In parts of Asia, bilingual education is a very elitist fact of life, with students learning certain subjects in English (geography, world history, maths, economics), while other subjects are taught in their mother tongue. This model was common in Hong Kong, then, after 1997, it was cut back to some extent. It has become en vogue in mainland China of late, although the central government does not encourage people to enrol at such schools.
Interestingly, 'minorities' in the PRC are taught bilingually: In Chinese (in Tibet, East Turkestan/Xinjiang). and in their first language, although the latter clearly is on the wane!
In the USA, I suppose bilingual schools are for the predominantly Spanish-speaking migrant groups in California. From what I have read, 'bilingualism' seems to be a hyperbole in many cases.
I believe Roger's right,
I would add that "a regular general education class only in Spanish" (as you mentioned it) would most likely be called a Spanish Immersion program. Everything from history, geography to mathematics is usually taught in the language that the students are supposed to be "immersed" in. English class is obviously taught in English. This type of program would be mostly for Anglophone students and not very helpful for Spanish-speaking students who are already competent in the language.
"Bilingual education" is quite a vague catagorisation. I suppose that even in an immersion program, such as the one in Canada, is in fact bilingual.
I would add that "a regular general education class only in Spanish" (as you mentioned it) would most likely be called a Spanish Immersion program. Everything from history, geography to mathematics is usually taught in the language that the students are supposed to be "immersed" in. English class is obviously taught in English. This type of program would be mostly for Anglophone students and not very helpful for Spanish-speaking students who are already competent in the language.
"Bilingual education" is quite a vague catagorisation. I suppose that even in an immersion program, such as the one in Canada, is in fact bilingual.
Roseray, since you are based in Hong Kong, you can watch bilingual education being practised in local elite schools there.
In Singapore, most kids grow up bilingual or multilingual.
I grew up multilingual. Success?
Success is when you fit in two cultures, language communities, no matter whether you are a native speaker of every language you speak or not.
Failure is the same as when you do not succeed at maths - you have learnt nothing.
In Singapore, most kids grow up bilingual or multilingual.
I grew up multilingual. Success?
Success is when you fit in two cultures, language communities, no matter whether you are a native speaker of every language you speak or not.
Failure is the same as when you do not succeed at maths - you have learnt nothing.
That isn't bilingual education as far as I know. Bilingual means two languages. At the end of a true "bilingual" program, students should be fluent and capable in both languages. Of course, I don't think all classes labeled "bilingual" actual are. But I don't see how they could be "bilingual" if most or all of the class is delivered in English.jfalfred wrote:would it be safe to say that bilingual education to some extent has the same factors in esl? one of the symptoms of bilingual education is that most (or all) of the class is delivered by english?
Exactly Lorikeet,
ESL is not bilingual education. By the time a student takes ESL, they are either already competent in their mother tongue, or are taking ESL on the side (ex. after school, on weekends) but not usually with another language.
ESL and EFL are exactly what they stand for. Bilingual education can represent many things but not simply ESL or EFL.
ESL is not bilingual education. By the time a student takes ESL, they are either already competent in their mother tongue, or are taking ESL on the side (ex. after school, on weekends) but not usually with another language.
ESL and EFL are exactly what they stand for. Bilingual education can represent many things but not simply ESL or EFL.
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Bilingual education
I have been researching exactly this subject for the last few days. ESL focuses mostly on teaching a non-native English speaker to speak English.
However, a bilingual program (although there are many different types of these) generally focus on teaching children in both their native language and another language (in some cases, the children might actually be taught in two non-native languages). The most comprehensive (and in my understanding, effective) of these is a dual immersion program. In the US, this would generally be English-Spanish (although it is sometimes used on reservations or in other language groups). The goal of a program like this is to have both native English speakers and native Spanish speakers taught for 50% of the time in English and 50% of the time in Spanish. Thus, Spanish speakers can learn to read and write (and think on higher levels) in their first language, which better allows them to learn a second, and English speakers can, as, well, take advantage of a system where they can optimize language learning. One huge advantage of such an education system is the ability to speak to peers in both languages. Many people learning foreign languages do not have access to native speakers. But when kids get out on the playground, they'll be speaking to each other in both English and Spanish, learning all of the language skills that we take for granted, naturally. My belief is that this is one of the best forms of language learning for young children.
However, a bilingual program (although there are many different types of these) generally focus on teaching children in both their native language and another language (in some cases, the children might actually be taught in two non-native languages). The most comprehensive (and in my understanding, effective) of these is a dual immersion program. In the US, this would generally be English-Spanish (although it is sometimes used on reservations or in other language groups). The goal of a program like this is to have both native English speakers and native Spanish speakers taught for 50% of the time in English and 50% of the time in Spanish. Thus, Spanish speakers can learn to read and write (and think on higher levels) in their first language, which better allows them to learn a second, and English speakers can, as, well, take advantage of a system where they can optimize language learning. One huge advantage of such an education system is the ability to speak to peers in both languages. Many people learning foreign languages do not have access to native speakers. But when kids get out on the playground, they'll be speaking to each other in both English and Spanish, learning all of the language skills that we take for granted, naturally. My belief is that this is one of the best forms of language learning for young children.
Roger said:
A more precise definition might say that the purpose of a thorough bilingual program (like maintenance & dual immersion) would be to develop biliteracy-- the ability to read and write, to the ability of an educated native speaker, in two languages. As I mentioned, sometimes ESL programs end up producing bilingual people; but very rarely do they produce biliterates . Just because a graduate of an ESL program can speak fluently in two languages, doesn't mean that their academic skills are equally up to snuff. ESL programs, at best, produce bilingual students who are literate in English but lack academic skills in their first language. That's the main difference between bilingual and ESL.
Biliteracy can be accomplished in a number of ways. Dual immersion programs in the US usually start younger students with a large percentage of the day in Spanish and the rest in English. As the students get older they "phase in " English, doing a higher percent of the day in English each year. The students go to different teachers, different classrooms, for instruction in the two languages. One of the hallmarks of a good program is that "code-switching" is not allowed. If you were hired as a bilingual teacher, you would probably be teaching two groups of children, one in English and one in Spanish. In spite of it's name, "bilingual education" does not mean that you would be switching back and forth between two languages in the middle of your class.
There are other possibilities, too. One school in San Diego conducts half the classes in English, half in Spanish, and then switches off every other year. That is, you get Math in Spanish on year, and the next year you get Math in English. That makes the students very well-rounded linguistically. In Europe I believe it is more common to stick to certain languages for certain subjects--a school in Bosnia might teach social sciences in Turkish, but natural sciences in English, because those were the languages they would likely need to do those subjects in.
Although ESL sometimes accomplishes this result, I wouldn't say that this is the purpose of the programs. The purpose of ESL is to teach English. Many students actually end up losing their L1 in the process (especially the younger they are). To complicate matters, there are several different types of bilingual education programs in the US, such as transitional, maintenance, and dual immersion. So even the bilingual programs themselves don't all have the same goals.The purpose of ESL is to make people bilingual in one language plus English (as a second tongue).
A more precise definition might say that the purpose of a thorough bilingual program (like maintenance & dual immersion) would be to develop biliteracy-- the ability to read and write, to the ability of an educated native speaker, in two languages. As I mentioned, sometimes ESL programs end up producing bilingual people; but very rarely do they produce biliterates . Just because a graduate of an ESL program can speak fluently in two languages, doesn't mean that their academic skills are equally up to snuff. ESL programs, at best, produce bilingual students who are literate in English but lack academic skills in their first language. That's the main difference between bilingual and ESL.
Biliteracy can be accomplished in a number of ways. Dual immersion programs in the US usually start younger students with a large percentage of the day in Spanish and the rest in English. As the students get older they "phase in " English, doing a higher percent of the day in English each year. The students go to different teachers, different classrooms, for instruction in the two languages. One of the hallmarks of a good program is that "code-switching" is not allowed. If you were hired as a bilingual teacher, you would probably be teaching two groups of children, one in English and one in Spanish. In spite of it's name, "bilingual education" does not mean that you would be switching back and forth between two languages in the middle of your class.
There are other possibilities, too. One school in San Diego conducts half the classes in English, half in Spanish, and then switches off every other year. That is, you get Math in Spanish on year, and the next year you get Math in English. That makes the students very well-rounded linguistically. In Europe I believe it is more common to stick to certain languages for certain subjects--a school in Bosnia might teach social sciences in Turkish, but natural sciences in English, because those were the languages they would likely need to do those subjects in.