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There needs to be a balance - the reason for bilingual schools is not to coddle the students in their first language - it is to give them the academics and conceptual understanding in their first language, which then becomes a direct transfer into their second language.  Those programs need to be a part of the larger community which is also gives students a need and desire to communicate in English.

posted 2 years, 4 months ago
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This was a frustrating show to listen to.  You never mentioned that the measure of success that you are commenting on is unrealistic.  Please See comment above from ELLteacher. Grrr

posted 2 years, 4 months ago
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I've been an ESL teacher in Portland Public Schools.  I have two comments:

My understanding of the common research says that a child needs 7 years of quality ESL instruction to be at pace with his/her native English speaking peers.  I am baffled by why the state decided on 5 years as the goal. And annoyed when the fact that we don't live up to an unrealistic expectation is seen as a huge failure. 

I have noticed that because kids are watching TV in Spanish now instead of English, the rate of acquisition has slowed for Spanish speaking kids in the last ten years.  So I often tell my students, "If you must watch TV - please watch it in English."

posted 2 years, 4 months ago
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