Many US schools are adapting their curricula to better serve English-speaking learners, who come from diverse backgrounds. English Language Development programs help students improve their language skills, and some schools offer bilingual education.
English-speaking learners are individuals who are learning English, usually students who are acquiring it as a second language. A significant number of students in the United States are learning English as a second language, and many schools are starting to rethink their education and curricula to address the problem.
Teachers across the United States work with English-speaking students, who can come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Some are recent immigrants and may be older and extremely proficient in their native languages. Others are young immigrants who have not had the opportunity to learn English, or children raised in families where English is not spoken. Since the primary language of instruction in most American schools is English, schools try to capture these students early so that their reading, writing, and comprehension skills can be improved before they get frustrated with school.
Schools in areas with large numbers of people who do not have English as their mother tongue may have English Language Development (ELD) programs to address their special needs students. A strong ELD program enables students to communicate more effectively in English while also improving their comprehension and listening skills so they can understand what is happening around them. Most programs rely on native language skills to help the student bridge the gap to English, and many teachers are starting to receive special training so they can help their students more effectively.
By the time they enter kindergarten, most English-only students have a basic understanding of the language. For them, school is an opportunity to hone their skills, improve their vocabulary and learn more about the complex grammar rules that govern the language. For English-speaking students, school can be an intimidating experience and it can also be humiliating in a poorly managed classroom. Some students have the advantage of a basic knowledge of English as they are raised in bilingual homes. Others, however, lack English skills and teachers have to start fresh with them, helping them learn quickly so they can function in the classroom.
The growing number of English-speaking students in the American school system has led to efforts to reform American education to meet their needs. Most school curricula now recognize one’s already existing language skills, rather than trying to suppress them, for example. Some schools also provide special intensive programs or a school environment that is particularly conducive to learning English skills and general education. While instruction may only be provided in English, it is often delivered in a way that promotes learning rather than simply frustrating students who are new to the language. Some schools also offer bilingual education, which also encourages students to help each other learn new language skills.
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