Ideally, there is a nearly 50/50 balance between language minority and language majority students. Īlso called developmental bilingual programs, these group language minority students from a single language background in the same classroom with language majority (English-speaking) students. Students remain in late-exit programs throughout elementary school and continue to receive 40% or more of their instruction in their first language, even when they have been reclassified as fluent-English-proficient. These differ from early-exit programs “primarily in the amount and duration that English is used for instruction as well as the length of time students are to participate in each program” (Ramirez, Yuen, & Ramey, 1991). Instruction in the first language is phased out rapidly, with most students mainstreamed by the end of first or second grade. These programs provide some initial instruction in the students’ first language, primarily for the introduction of reading, but also for clarification. These are designed to help children acquire the English skills required to succeed in an English-only mainstream classroom. Students in bilingual programs are grouped according to their first language, and teachers must be proficient in both English and the students’ home language. These programs are most easily implemented in districts with a large number of students from the same language background. Bilingual program modelsĪll bilingual program models use the students’ home language, in addition to English, for instruction. The resource center concentrates ESL materials and staff in one location and is usually staffed by at least one full-time ESL teacher. This is a variation of the pull-out design, bringing students together from several classrooms or schools. They may be grouped for instruction according to their level of English proficiency. Students receive ESL instruction during a regular class period and usually receive course credit. This is generally used in middle school settings. Students spend part of the school day in a mainstream classroom, but are pulled out for a portion of each day to receive instruction in English as a second language. This is generally used in elementary school settings. ESL programs can accommodate students from different language backgrounds in the same class, and teachers do not need to be proficient in the home language(s) of their students. ESL program modelsĮSL programs (rather than bilingual programs) are likely to be used in districts where the language minority population is very diverse and represents many different languages. The choice should be made at the local level after careful consideration of the needs of the students involved and the resources available. Although there may be reasons to claim the superiority of one program model over another in certain situations (Collier 1992 Ramirez, Yuen, and Ramey 1991), a variety of programs can be effective. The effectiveness of various program models for language minority students remains the subject of controversy. All schools must be prepared to meet the challenge of an increasingly diverse student population, including many students who are not proficient in English. Language minority students can be found in schools across the country, not just those in large cities or in areas near the U.S.-Mexican border. Children from families in which English is not the language of the home represent a rapidly increasing percentage of students enrolled in U.S.
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