Module Response 5: Bilingual Education Programs & Teaching Bilingually 1 Based on your new, or perhaps revised, understanding of bilingual education programs and the rationale for teaching English learners in the U.S. bilingually, and maybe even based on your own experiences teaching in the schools, what do you believe is the best way to teach English learners a) the English language, b) academic language and content, c) critical thinking skills, d) skills that would prepare them for post-secondary education, e) experiences that would help them to lead productive lives in our global society? The Texas Education Agency (TEA) defines English Language Learner (ELL) as a “Student of limited English proficiency” means a student whose primary language …show more content…
Since students are expected to learn both English and Spanish Languages, “the spelling, grammar, metaphors and communicative skills may be directly taught.” (Baker, 2011) (P. 225) Language must be also taught in context with other subjects and through the school day and during the particular time allotted to learn English. b) Academic Language and content: The academic language should be taught in both languages to ensure that proficiency is practiced on a daily basis. “Once the decision is made about when to teach through each language” as Baker (2011) stated. Dual language programs need to be carefully designed to ensure that each language receives an equal amount of time in the classroom. A good intervention during this teaching program is to be able to reinforce the concept taught in the student’s strongest …show more content…
Many English Language Learners have a difficult time understanding academic concepts, and they need to understand how those concepts relate to the workplace and to the workplace and to the larger society in which they will live and work. ELL’s engagement in their schoolwork increases significantly when they are taught and explained why they are learning the concepts and how those concepts can be used in real-world