BY STUDENT
It is clear to see that immigration has influenced the United States in many ways. America is represented as a melting pot because of the vast cultures, traditions and populations we hold from numerous backgrounds. Economic opportunity has made the United States a beneficial alternative for a home in the 18th and 19th century. With this being said, we have always been surrounded by different cultures and their distinct languages. In this blog post I argue that education should teach bilingual practices in the 20th century.
The Latinx community is continuing to grow in the US as well as their Spanish speaking languages. “The Hispanic Challenge,” written by Samuel Huntington states that, “Dual-language programs, which go one step beyond bilingual education, have become increasingly popular” (2004). This idea that was discussed in his article could potentially have a great impact on our evolving world. I find this to be a great implementation in the education system for personal and general knowledge everyone can learn from. In today’s political climate it is important to respect other cultures; by utilizing dual language programs early on in schools can be a great way of doing that.
This concept can help students understand diverse cultures by contrasting similarities and differences of their own practices. By learning a second language you are simply diversifying society and yourself. Being able to build relationships and friendships with people from around the world can give you greater insight on their culture and their practices. This would definitely give you more job opportunities. I even feel that today if you are bilingual, employers are more likely to hire you for communication purposes. If we apply these lesson plans in the classroom today, I am curious as to how this would affect future generations. If I had the chance to take a second language at any earlier age, I would surely take that opportunity.
Huntington, Samuel P. "The hispanic challenge." (2004): 30-45.
I agree that education should enforce bilingual practices for I went to a bilingual school from Pre-k to 2nd grade. But, only took a Spanish class when I went to middle school. So, how early in education should these practices be implemented in the education system? We must also ask ourselves is language enough for one to understand and learn how to respect one's culture?
ReplyDeleteI think having dual language programs in schools would be a great addition to school curricula. In recent years, especially since Trump’s administration, there has been an anti-latinx sentiment in many parts of the country. Exposing youth to the Spanish language, or whatever foreign language is predominantly spoken in a specific region, would open student's minds to different cultures and experiences. Although speaking and understanding more than one language does not guarantee acceptance and respect of others, it is a noble place to start and can be used to build upon later in the school system like teaching students about the history and struggles of latinx people. Implementing dual language programs in schools would also benefit students who take ESL classes and may feel embarrassed for not mastering the English language, since they could take comfort in the fact that their peers would be learning a new language too.
ReplyDeleteI think that the idea of Dual Language Programs would be great to implement in schools. It could teach tolerance, respect and competence from an early age. I do think it is important to put as much emphasis and respect to those who are native speakers of other languages like Spanish as we do to those who simply learn it. America seems to love culture without loving the people behind it. I would hope that these programs wouldn't steal the richness and history behind Latinx culture but educate others on it. Personally speaking, I don't think of America as a melting pot. Everyone has their own culture and that is seen everyday. This is why I refer to America as a salad bowl. In a salad, you can see all of it's different elements- lettuce, cheese, tomatoes etc. whereas in a melting bot everything is blended together. It is important to recognize the differences everyone has, recognize the value in that and see that they all play a vital role in the overall betterment of the country- just like a salad.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, I think having Dual Language Programs would be significant in not only educating children, but also informing them of their culture and teaching them to embrace bilingualism- which is something a lot of Latinx people get bashed for. Teaching students another language at a young age can also be beneficial to them as they grow older. Working in a business or industry, especially if you live in diverse places such as NYC, speaking multiple languages is a key elemnet in the hiring process and can be very beneficial to have.
ReplyDeleteI think that your blog post had many important and relevant information. I think having dual language programs is a very significant step to advancement in schools and cities. Culture is very rich and should be outlined through dual language programs especially when you live in New York City where most people probably already do speak a second or even third language. Its important to recognize and understand the differences as well as the culture behind these programs and the importance of keeping people diversified and educated.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of dual language programs in education is one that not enough people are taking seriously. In my experienced I was only able to take a language course for the first time in high school. For me I thought it was not that necessary due to me being Dominican but after taking the course as well as a few in college you come to find that there is a wide range of differences between Spanish speaking countries. These programs have the capability of providing incite, understanding, and a certain open mindedness when it comes to people that differ from someones self.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your blogpost I liked all the relevant information you spoke about. I liked the idea of enforcing dual languages in school. When I was in middle school I was in a bilingual class, I really liked it since we all had something in common and could take it easy and not push learning English fast but learn both Spanish and English on a good paste. Speaking another language will be so beneficial in the future and for jobs and implementing dual-language classes in school at an early age when they are able to absorb the language more easily will be better and beneficial.
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ReplyDeleteUnderstanding multiple languages is an amazing tool to have. Whatever language it may be, it helps your mind think in different ways to map the similarities and differences between the tongues. Personally, I'm speak the tribal language of Afghanistan called Pashto at home, I also understand Persian, and have taken Spanish throughout middle and high school. The implementation of bilingualism in schools can be very helpful to get information across different backgrounds. In the US, Spanish would make the most sense to learn since it pretty much is the second most spoken language after English.
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