English Please?.. English Plus!
Posted on 13. Jul, 2009 by Andrew.
We’ve all heard this issue brought up time and time again. Being from Florida, I often hear calls for English to be declared our national language. In the state of Washington, airline passengers are greeted at Sea-Tac in Japanese. The problem becomes how to help non-English speakers learn while respecting an individual’s rights to speak the language of their choosing and respecting their culture.
U.S. Congressman Jose Serrano (D-NY) has proposed legislation that will “encourage all residents of this country to become fully proficient in English,” while recognizing “the importance of multilingualism to vital American interests and individual rights”. House Concurrent Resolution 3 (The English Plus Resolution), is composed of five main points, the first of which is to encourage all U.S. residents to be proficient in English.
The bill also encourages Americans to learn secondary languages to become competitive in the global market. Although most high schools require a foreign language credit for graduation, English Plus would push for these languages to be taught earlier in children’s lives, when they are more cognitively receptive to new language skills.
The third point upholds the preservation of indigenous languages that are on the brink of extinction. Native languages are still taught and used today by indigenous groups across the US, and languages like Navajo were used during WWII as codes. Passing down languages is an important aspect of cultural preservation.
English Plus would also maintain government services in other languages in order to assist English learners and bilingual people. One example of this is when former Florida Governor Jeb Bush gave an address on Hurricane Wilma in English and in Spanish, warning all residents of the state of the impending danger.
The fifth point of the bill states that the U.S. will recognize the significance of multilingualism while rejecting English-only measures. This last point really sums up the theme of the bill. Living in such a large country, Americans are less-exposed to other languages than Europeans for example, who live in much closer proximity to neighboring countries. This can be a detriment to US global relations and trade, which is really the last thing we need in these tough economic times. English Plus would encourage multilingual education in early learning and elementary schools in order to help all U.S. residents become fluent in English as well as become more proficient in alternative languages.
Library of Congress (Thomas)- www.lis.gov
Mass English Plus Coalition- www.massenglishplus.org
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Education News of the Day for July 13, 2009
Posted on 13. Jul, 2009 by Lindsey.
Arts provide another dimension to education : Even in tough economic times, the arts are essential
Schools take action to expand early learning: Burlington-Edison schools get Gates grant
200 miles to raise awareness: Running STP is elementary
Schools districts provide real experience in the classroom: Unleashed will be back in fall as school districts step up
Washington’s state Foundation for Early Learning elects new chair: WW man to chair early learning group
A perfect fit: Wilson Creek welcomes new superintendent
