[lg policy] California bilingual education could be a game changer

[Harold Schiffman]

 California bilingual education could be a game changer
<https://asunow.asu.edu/20161105-california-bilingual-education-could-be-game-changer#>
<https://asunow.asu.edu/20161105-california-bilingual-education-could-be-game-changer#>
<https://asunow.asu.edu/20161105-california-bilingual-education-could-be-game-changer#>
<https://asunow.asu.edu/20161105-california-bilingual-education-could-be-game-changer#>
------------------------------
November 5, 2016

On Tuesday, California voters will decide on the fate of bilingual
education. The passage of Proposition 58 would overturn a 1998 initiative
that eliminated most bilingual education in California, providing students
with additional learning opportunities. Its impact would touch not only
California but could influence policy in Arizona and other Southwestern
states with significant immigrant populations.

Pablo Ramírez, an assistant professor of teacher preparation at Arizona
State University’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College and a former California
elementary and secondary teacher, researches English-language learners in
the public school system. He offers his take on what the passage of
Proposition 58 would mean for California and other states. Download Full
Image
<https://asunow.asu.edu/sites/default/files/default_images/asu-watermark-lg-dk_0_0.png>

*Question: How would you describe bilingual education?*

*Answer:* In general terms, it is classroom instruction that teaches and
values two languages. Further, bilingual education promotes cultural
awareness and bi-cognitve development in the bilingual student.

*Q: What is the benefit of incorporating more than one language in the
classroom?*

*A:* The use and integration of two languages provides students with
multiple opportunities for learning. So students are able to strengthen
their Spanish and English by having opportunities to engage in meaningful
literacy activities that promote cultural awareness and bicultural identity.

*Q: Are there drawbacks from teaching more than one language in the
classroom?*

*A:* The only drawbacks that exist are related to bilingual programs’
underdevelopment. If bilingual programs do not receive funding for
curriculum and instruction and teacher preparation, the program is not able
to grow, and unfortunately, this impacts students.

*Q: Why does this issue continue to trigger so much controversy?*

*A:* Folks continue to believe that being bilingual is going against U.S.
values and traditions. This is a sort of notion of not being American. This
truly stems from racist ideology that exists in society.

*Q: Some teaching professionals emphasize that English-language learning
and dual-language learning are not just about language proficiency, but
expanding the ability of non-English speakers to succeed in math, science
and other subjects. Can you explain this?*

*A:* Students in dual-language classrooms have the opportunity to learn
about math and science in both languages.  This supports students who are
Spanish speakers because they have access to rich academic content. For
English-speaking students, they have opportunity to practice and reinforce
Spanish skills while learning math and science. So dual language, if
instructed the correct way, provides access to content to various type of
language learners.

*Q: How would California’s passage of Proposition 58 affect states such as
Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, all of which have significant Latino
populations? And how would it impact the United States more generally?*

*A:* If Proposition 58 passes, it completely rejects the all-English
movement in California. This means that more schools would be able to
provide dual-language learning or other forms of bilingual education to
more students.  So, Latino and Latina students will benefit tremendously
across the state.

Arizona will be impacted because it will begin to trigger conversations
about the role of dual-language learning and bilingual education in
schools. This could potentially make the state reconsider the all-English
language policies (Proposition 203, passed in 2000) that exist.

New Mexico and Texas would also benefit. Both states have a strong
bilingual-education presence, and so their programs would also begin to
grow and expand if they modified some of their language policies.

https://asunow.asu.edu/20161105-california-bilingual-education-could-be-game-changer


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