tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14707730.post113577559225013998..comments2024-03-16T13:43:21.762-04:00Comments on Schools Matter: Lucky to be in AmericaJames Hornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04462754705431590571noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14707730.post-1135872655211256142005-12-29T11:10:00.000-05:002005-12-29T11:10:00.000-05:00Participation is the key, but how much time out of...Participation is the key, but how much time out of a class can a teacher afford to "force" students to speak English and still have all the students in the class meet the requirements of NCLB? <BR/><BR/>I've read that it takes around 7 or more years to become fluent, not just socially but also academically, in a new language. Where and how are the Somalians going to participate in a manner conducive to learning both English and the content matter of the school? In reality, they need to learn twice as much, probably more, than the other students, which means unless they're exceptional and receive help, they're simply going to fall further and further behind until they drop out of school.<BR/><BR/>For those who believe it's simply a matter of "immersion," I recommend going abroad for a year and see how fluent they become.Charles Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03848442952740759446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14707730.post-1135790791600349972005-12-28T12:26:00.000-05:002005-12-28T12:26:00.000-05:00No one is a bigger fan of Mike Winerip than I am.S...No one is a bigger fan of Mike Winerip than I am.<BR/><BR/>Still, t's remarkable for a kid to spend two years without acquiring a significant amount of English. Also, while I do not oppose bilingual education, it should not be necessary. Immersion ought to work for anyone. There's something really wrong here.<BR/><BR/>It could certainly be the inability of the kids to read that hinders them, but they still ought to pick up verbal English.<BR/><BR/>If these kids were in my beginning ESL classes, I would force them to speak English, whether they liked it or not. It's fairly standard practice. What the hell those MA teachers are doing is beyond me.<BR/><BR/>Translation is not, primarily, how kids acquire language. <BR/><BR/>Participation is.NYC Educatorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12188066345722781723noreply@blogger.com