Video Debate Out of Class Assignment

Roles:

English Only

o Megan Houlihan

o Katie Roughan

· Bilingual Education

o Alex Altier

o Christina Rombousek

· Moderator

o Sarah McCormick

Bilingual Education:

· Pros

o Stays in the child’s comfort zone

o Validates their culture and helps to make them feel like it’s an adjustment and

not as though we are trying to change something about them (their language)

o Can focus on learning content rather than learning a new language

·
Cons

o Takes longer for the child to become fluent in English

o Could potentially segregate the English learner from their peers

o More costly and unqualified teachers

· Key Points

● Creates more cultural opportunities

● Bilingual education can strengthen the executive function of the brain

(bilingualkidspot.com)

● Broadens career opportunities

English Only:

Pros

o Helps with classroom management

o Helps them learn real life English, not just academic vocabulary in English

o More cost efficient for schools because a translator and/or additional teacher

would not be required

· Cons

o Outside of the child’s comfort zone

 o Strips them of their culture

o Focuses on learning a new language rather than the student learning the

education content

· Key Points

● Children are more likely to intermingle with each other leading to a well rounded

perspectives (education.findlaw)

● English-only instruction helps students to learn English more effectively than

bilingual education programs. (education.findlaw)

● More cost effective for the school district

Cross-Examination Questions:

· English Only question for Bilingual Education

● Does letting students still speak their native language fully allow them to become

proficient in English?

● sIs the cost of a bilingual education worth it? Is there specific evidence that shows

a bilingual education is that much more efficient than English Only approach?

● How do you know the teacher(s) are properly qualified to teach English Language

Learners?

· Bilingual Education question for English Only

 ● How exactly does using an English Only approach help improve classroom

management?

● Is there evidence of students having higher success rates in a [restrictive] English

only environment?

● How does an English only education incorporate their (an English language

learner’s) culture into their learning/education? How would this address the

multicultural approach?

Closing Argument:

Bilingual Education

● Allows students to be culturally aware and comfortable in their educational environment.

● Opens up career opportunities in the future

● The student(s) can focus on the academic content and not learning a new language

English Only

● Allows teachers to manage his or her classroom more efficiently.

● Allow schools to spend their money in ways that can benefit all of the students.

● Helps students assimilate into a predominantly english society.