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Speaking In Tongues Analysis

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According to Jarmel and Schneider (2010), by the year 2025, one-third of students attending public schools will not know English when they start Kindergarten. How will schools adapt to this? Will teachers and/or students be limited on what they can teach/learn throughout the school year because of time restraints? In a documentary Speaking in Tongues, directed by Jarmel & Schneider (2010), four students who range from Kindergarten to eighth grade, showcase their experiences about attending public school around the San Francisco area to become bilingual. The four students Durrell, Jason, Julian, and Kelly are taught in English and also in a second language such as Mandarin, Spanish, Chinese, and Cantonese. Families of the students express both …show more content…

The documentary instantly starts off with the thoughts from the family members of the four students on why people should know more than one language. Right after these clips, an opponent is saying how if you do not learn how to read, write, and speak in English properly, an individual will not be able to go to college or get a job which is not good for our society. However, Farr (2001) argues that people who are not “proficient” in English are still able to be successful in English-oriented jobs. They are able to cope if they have any difficulties with the literacy demands. Another perspective for the “English-Only” argument was made from a family member of one of the students. She thinks if you are in America you should be speaking English and if students are learning another language in school it takes time away from other curriculum. During the San Francisco School Board meeting, many people shared their thoughts having all San Francisco public schools students become bilingual. Dr. Ling-chi Wang, a scholar and activist, shared that knowing a second language stimulates and enhances learning in other subjects. Another man mentioned how only knowing English places limits on his job (ie. business). The business industry can be worldwide and not knowing a second language can create obstacles for people to do …show more content…

His narrative shows this support and how having instruction in Spanish and English allows him to have higher academics. In less than ten years, one third of students attending public schools will not know English when starting Kindergarten. Are schools and teachers ready for this and will push for bilingual instruction? Is America ready for this? As for now, there is mixed perspectives. Having a second language in your background is so impactful on one’s life, providing them with more skills. This is the 21st century and having this skill helps an individual be

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