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Increasing Number of non-English speaking students in th

The number of non-English speaking students in the United States has increased in recent years. Leslie, Glick and Gordon (1991) have noted that at least 2 million American students have "limited proficiency in English" (p. 56). Other estimates regarding the number of non-English speaking students are much higher. In this regard, Monagle (1991) has claimed that "close to 5 million American students do not speak, read, or write in the English language" (p. 13). In some states, non-English speaking students form a large percentage of the total student population. In fact, there are currently seven states in which "25 percent or more of the students are not native-English speakers" (Leslie, Glick & Gordon, 1991, p. 56). Furthermore, it has been noted that "all but a handful of states have at least 1,000 foreign-born youngsters" (Leslie, Glick & Gordon, 1991, p. 56).

Because of the large number of non-English speakers, American society has a dualistic nature in which it is divided between demands for the use of English as an official language and the right of immigrant minorities to communicate in their own native languages. There are a number of obstacles which are encountered by non-English speakers in a dual culture such as the United States. Such persons meet with difficulties because English is the primary language in both the schools and in the American society as a whole. In order to fit into the American society, immigrants must become fluent in English as quickly as possible. There are few educators who would disagree with the importance of teaching English to non-English speaking students. However, a controversy has arisen regarding the exact way in which this goal should be attained. Some experts opt for bilingual education, in which students are taught in both their native language and English. Others prefer the English-only approach, in which students are immersed in the English language, and the focus is on m...

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Increasing Number of non-English speaking students in th. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 06:27, March 19, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1705266.html