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Which Language 'Superpowers' Do Bilingual Students Bring to US Schools?

Posted on 10/15/2024

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stick figures of people saying hello in different languages

California along with New York celebrates its cultural and language diversity. Families enroll in schools who speak as many as “150 languages” additional to English. No surprise that Spanish remains in the “top spot” for “the most common home language among English learners,” according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Graph of 15 most common english learner home languages

“ESL is different from bilingual education, where students are taught subject material in both English and their home language.” Many of these programs might transition students to fully English classes as their language proficiency increases. Whereas instructors are expected to teach in the home language/s of their students. This makes staffing difficult. Home Languages of English Learners in California Interactive tableau links to most up-to-date information.

Adult Education supports multilingualism in families as English proficiency and valuing a person’s home language is at the forefront of most programs. As parents acquire the English language, so it then helps develop their own family’s proficiency in both their home languages and in English. Speaking additional languages is society’s superpower.

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OTAN activities are funded by contract CN240137 from the Adult Education Office, in the Career & College Transition Division, California Department of Education, with funds provided through Federal P.L., 105-220, Section 223. However, OTAN content does not necessarily reflect the position of that department or the U.S. Department of Education.