No Child Left Bilingual Part I

[toughgirly]

People need to realize that this is multilingual and multicultural country, I don't see a problem with bilingualism regardless of the languages being taught. Also, children need to have a strong base in their first language in order for them to pick up a second language just as strong.

[freetubester]

in Miami you cannot get a job at McDonald's if you are not bi-lingual

[NYKgjl10]

@freetubester Same here in Los Angeles.

[tarog68]

Unfortunately, there are many that don't understand how one acquires a second language. They need to be told that in order to learn English proficiently on an academic level, one must have a strong foundation in their primary language. If they only want students to SPEAK English, then you don't need them to have a strong foundation in their primary language. But, the latter is not what the students are expected to learn in school, especially in middle or high school.

[5afj]

English is THE language in the US main culture and society and you are doing a disservice to these students by not properly helping them fit in. Let the lazy parents or whatever teach them their 'mother' tongue in the home.

[happymurderer]

watch it...it helps to learn spanish at school as well...besides...its not bad for anyone who doesnt know spanish to kinda learn that language...its not that bad. so dont be a bitch and quit hating.

source: me as a bilingual student for 6 years

[5afj]

Happymurderer- with a name like that, I guess I should 'watch it'. Nobody is saying that one shouldn't learn a FOREIGN language. But we are talking about teaching students in a foreign language, which will only retard their progress in English. Whether you wish it were so or not doesn't matter. ENGLISH is the DOMINANT language in the US and if you want to succeed at all in this country.......or you could not learn English and clean toilets.

[GaviotaChiquita]

And also-- take a bow Cristian. Super-bravisimo.

[GaviotaChiquita]

IF you refuse these children the tools they need in order to become proficient in their native language SO THAT they may become proficient in their second language, so that they are intellectually curious, so that they are socially responsible, THEN society may pay a much higher price when they become adults. All children have the RIGHT to awaken their intellectual curiosities, and become socially responsible so that they may be progressive thinkers and contributing members of society.

[interamericanschool]

Thank you for this very relevant, very important video. Remember, monolingualism CAN be cured!

[TAKENnameARGH]

People should speak AT LEAST 2 languages, if there are no cognitive restrictions.

I speak finnish, swedish, english and french. And and a big bunch of senteces, words and grammar of other various languages.

[akumie]

svenska, engelska, spanska, lär mig baskiska :)

power to small languages wuth more unique culture then biffer ones

[EkBalam707]

El hecho de dominar los dos idiomas mas hablados en el pais otorga cierta ventaja cultural en cierto dector de la poblacion.

[Detudixit]

Very good video. Some of the people who left posts are just confused about the message. They think it's one thing or the other, for those people, the key word is INTEGRATION.

[shrutidusaj]

Therefore, why can't you or other immigrants from Spanish speaking countries be satisfied with speaking Spanish at home and using English as the lingua franca? Is there a real necessity for the children of immigrants to be taught Spanish (let alone be taught other subjects IN Spanish) here?

Can integration and immersion in society actually be successful if you steadfastly refuse to adapt to your new (and CONSCIOUSLY CHOSEN) circumstances?

[CrissolNYC]

So I ask you: Why did you study English in your country? To come to a university in the US? You are now reaping the benefits of being bilingual. What if US-born children one day want to go to a Spanish speaking country to study and work?

Also, now that you are here, are you going to give up your native tongue? Will your children speak English only?

[shrutidusaj]

1) Because it is an official language in my country.

2) No, everybody back home grows up bilingual. Schools and colleges teach in English, while at home we speak our native tongues.

3) They may learn Spanish if they desire to - it's a fairly easy language to pick up and there are enough opportunities to learn it here.

[shrutidusaj]

4) I'm not here as an immigrant, but as a student. Therefore, your last two questions are not valid to my case. However, I do have cousins whose parents immigrated here. These cousins are not conversant in their parents' mother tongues (though they do understand it since it is spoken at home), and I see no problem with that.

As for my children, if I do have any, what languages they choose to learn is entirely their choice.

[shrutidusaj]

Therefore, why can you or other immigrants from Spanish speaking countries be satisfied with speaking Spanish at home and using English as the lingua franca? Is there a real necessity for the children of immigrants to be taught Spanish (let alone be taught other subjects IN Spanish) here?

Can integration and immersion in society actually be successful if you steadfastly refuse to adapt to your new (and CONSCIOUSLY CHOSEN) circumstances?

[CrissolNYC]

In case you haven't heard, the United States IS a multilingual/multicultural country. By becoming and maintaining our bilingualism/multilingualism we are adapting to our circumstances!

[edbarbarg]

It is, but that's a big mistake. Why don't you check out the trouble they are having in Canada.

US policy should be oriented to uniting people with a common culture. I wish people of the many sub-cultures in the US would realize there are politicians who want to keep them out of the mainstream for their own political purposes. Think about that: there is a party that thrives on DIS-unity, and you are the ignorant pawn in their lust for power.

[tabernak9]

I laugh at your comment. What trouble are we having?

[edbarbarg]

How about laws that mandate signs in french in Vancouver. How about secessionist Vancouver.  How about the continued secessionist movement in Vancouver.

What a lot of brainwashed people lap up this bile.

[tabernak9]

Dude, I am Québecois. French and English are the official languages of Canada.

It is of the utmost importance that I be served in my mother tongue for services

For the most part our english counterparts do an OK job of learning English. The ones in eastern Ontario do Ok.

Anyways, who cares if one city wants to seperate. unless you mean the entire province of British Columbia.

If they vote to secede, it is their right. We are a confederation, not a union or whatever your messed up country is.

[edbarbarg]

I guess that's why they have language laws and language police in Canada. Everyone's so content with the bilingual system that the francophones feel it is necessary to force others to put up signs in French.

[tabernak9]

Right, because we are an officially bilingual country. The language laws and language police are in Québec to protect the French Language and Culture that has been there since the mid 1500's. The nitty gritty language laws are in Québec, one province.

Give me a valid argument why there shouldn't be French Roadsigns that accompany the English Roadsides.

Are we supposed to Only stay in Québec, Eastern Ontario, and New Brunswick?

Canada is my country too. What if I want to move to BC?

[bluenosedive]

Hey dude I'm also a bilingual Canadian English and French... don't listen to this dum-ass, Canadians should be able to go where ever they want in the country and get servived in one of the two official langauges... and plus I think Quebec did a good job of protecting the French Language in Quebec and all over Canada... just imagine if there were no language laws,French would be a thing of the past just like in the U.S.A

[akumie]

french, english bla bla bla

think about the native langages that only are spoken on reservations thatnks to the white man those should also be official languages

[tabernak9]

Or are we supposed to be like your Native Americans forced to stay on Reservations and not allowed to go anywhere else? What is this? The late 19th century?

Is that what you are saying? I hope not. If you are, then please get with the times.

Why don't you try living in the Present.

[edbarbarg]

Did you have too much beer tonight? I have no idea what you are talking about or what you are trying to relate.

Meanwhile, you ought to accept you want to force people to accept and support your language. I guess that's only OK for Francophones.

[shrutidusaj]

I'm bilingual (though not in Spanish and English) and I have been in the US for only three months (as a university undergrad).

Despite that, I fail to see the relevance of bilingualism in American society. You (or your parents) chose to adopt this country as a homeland, right? And when you did so, you were obviously fully aware that English is the primary language here.

[edbarbarg]

immersion + people who love america + hard work = 200 million successful americans

bilingual education + people who don't want to give up their culture = waste of money & people who can't speak english

[CrissolNYC]

I don't want to give up my culture, I can speak English really well, can speak a couple of OTHER languages, and I love America. What do you say to that? What are you basing your statement on? It's a pretty ignorant comment.

[edbarbarg]

Hmm. Looks like my comment here was lost somehow. I'll repeat it. In a study that I have reviewed, nearly all of the educators who implemented immersion said it works.

It's also cheaper. I have nothing against you learning Spanish or any other language. I don't want to be forced to pay for you to keep your heritage or learn another language. If it's that important to you, pay the $ yourself.

[CrissolNYC]

One study is not enough to make such a conclusion. I encourage you to read the full range of studies and then form a conclusion.

As far as spending $ money on myself... Yes, I choose to spend my tax dollars on creating more dual language schools as many communities and parents are choosing as well. You can continue to send and promote English-Only and have your children attend monolingual schools. It's a matter of respecting people's choices, much like the old adage "Live and let live".

[edbarbarg]

I would say the burden of proof is on you. 1. You want to use others dollars to do it. 2. Immersion has been proven to work throughout the history of this nation. 3. Bilingual/multicultural countries have significant difficulties.

Live and let live is a cultural value that not all cultures embrace. Think about that carefully.

[akumie]

I so agree

If I would live in usa i would expect to speak swedish (my native language) at home but evrywhere else english ONLY (well exept native langiages but thats another story)

I have heard u go to Miami and 70% pf people cant even speak english, heck even in shops u cant order in english...just proves usa should in my opinion have english as language 1 and all other immersion schools should promot native american languages (whites who made native lnguage so small) as second language

[akumie]

Native has so much more unique cultur thats slowly dying while example spanish has so much

if I choose a new language to learn I would first think about the unique cultur and history, second about number of speakers and so calles job opertunities

[frenchie788]

thanks for this video

[drwaynewright]

Thanks for producing this insightful video! Great way to bring attenting to this most important issue.

-W. Wright

[autumnlatina]

I enjoyed viewing this - I will show this to my graduate class as we are discussing standardized testing and ELLs - here in Florida (many NYorkers here) things are very similar. Will let you know the comments of students. Dr. LIRL

[KingsTramp]

Now if we could get the anti-bilingual education bureaucrats and ideologues to face reality. Good job with this video.

[djdaigoro]

Thoughtful analysis + creative presentation = powerful critique.

thank you Mr. Solorza