I’d like to take issue with the English immersion advocates. Yes, many students will learn to survive if immersed in a language other than their own. But most will not, or at best, will take longer to acquire the new language.
Think of it: when you are in a foreign country or any place where a different language is spoken for that matter, don’t you invariably translate to acquire understanding. Imagine being thrust into the world of a new language, like say, your European ancestors were (of their own adventurous will, however). I don’t think their response was, “Oh my, we must really pay attention to the natives and learn their language, since this is, after all, their country.” English immersion does NOT work as well as bilingual education does because we all translate.
The only advantage to English immersion favors English-only speakers. The result is poor grammar and diction without an understanding of the subtleties and nuances of the language. This is perfect, though, because it saves prospective employers from having to hire truly bilingual persons to tell prospective employees that they are still Mexicans or Salvadoreans, which is the TRUE reason they will not earn as much as English speakers.
I am a degreed person with a credential to teach ESL. I am of Mexican descent and I have had an uphill battle just to secure a position in my field. Most teachers and districts where I live seem to believe (though they don’t express it openly)that a male of Mexican descent couldn’t possibly teach ESL as or more effectively than a person of any other subgroup.
One of this issue’s respondents claimed that the ability to speak English will yield 50%-60% more earnings. WOW! If they work for minimum wage that would give them, hmmm, less than survival money.
My mother decided early on to speak only English to me. What did it accomplish – only a fluency in this language. It did not earn me any more money. It did however cost me student loans to get my degree and a debt that still haunts me because I cannot get a job in the field of my choosing – because I am still Mexican in a country that disrespects, hates and blames us for all its maladies.
