Termin:
20.03.2006
16:00
English only or Bilingualism: Socio-political dimensions of
U.S. educational policy
Irma Olmedo, College of Education, University of Illinois-Chicago
An educational challenge for United States educators involves the education of immigrant and non-English speaking children to develop their language skills so that they can achieve in all academic areas of the school curriculum. Given the growing population of students who speak languages other than English at home and in their community, bilingual education approaches make sense. However, in spite of significant linguistic diversity in many urban areas of the United States,
controversies on the use of languages other than English continue to plague the American landscape. What are some of the changing socio-political dimensions of the debates surrounding the use of English and other languages in education in the United States? How are teacher educators in urban areas addressing these issues? Research on children's bilingual development raises questions about educational policy, urban realities such as demographics and segregation of minorities in American cities, and questions over the most effective ways to educate a growing population of children who speak languages other than English. This presentation will focus on controversies, research, and policy issues related to teaching English language learners in American schools.
Um Voranmeldung unter Wiebke.Sievers@oeaw.ac.at wird gebeten.
Kontakt:
Dr. Wiebke Sievers
Kommission für Migrations- und Integrationsforschung
Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften
T +43 1 51581-7796