English Only Debate
Grand Canyon University
ESL-223N SEI English Language Teaching Foundations & Methodologies
English Only Debate The English only debate has been an ongoing deliberation for many decades in the United States. Questions from political parties, legislators, and common people have been a hot topic on the English only subject and what they believe would be best for the nation (Echevarria, Vogt, & Short, 2008). Would having English as the national language of the United State unify the nation or would it tear it apart? Would it be politically correct? Would it be fair? Would it cause segregation? Would it be a security threat? These are just some of the questions that …show more content…
The Bilingual Education Act, Title VII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1968, was proclaimed as landmark legislation in defense of curriculum s for English language learner students. This federal law presented legal procedures and funding for transitional bilingual education programs. A sequence of federal court verdicts helped expand the opportunities and execution of Title VII (“The Aftermath,” 2011). The Supreme Court judgment in Lau v. Nichols in 1974 expected school districts to take steps to defend the civil rights of English language learners. From 1998 to 2008 initiatives really began to take shape for English language learners. In five different states voters were requested to come to a decision about educating policies that effect English language learners (Mora, 2009). Anti bilingual education vote proposal was passed in California in 1998, Arizona in 2000, and Massachusetts in 2002. However, the anti bilingual education was rejected in Colorado in 2002 and most recently in Oregon in 2008 (“The Importance of Our English Language,” …show more content…
You are no more an American if you speak English than someone that does not; however, English is what is pushed in the United States. Even in school for ESL students; the schools are not just accommodating the students because they speak a different language. The schools are having the students learn to speak, read, write, and comprehend in English. I believe that this is a good thing because if a person has the ability to learn another language and become bilingual then that person will have an upper hand in the work place and society from someone who can only speak one language. Is that not what we are trying to prepare the students of the future to be outside of school? Educators want their students to be successful, intuitive, and able to use critical thinking skills to perform above and beyond the call of duty in and out of school. Being bilingual gives those students that extra