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The Education of Immigrant Children
Publisher: Cross Cultural Communication Centre, 1991 Dufferin St., Toronto M6E 3P9Year Published: 1982 Pages: 8pp Resource Type: Article Cx Number: CX2404 The question of the education of immigrant children is extremely complex and is related to the larger issue of the role and adaptation of immigrants in general. Abstract: The question of the education of immigrant children is extremely complex and is related to the larger issue of the role and adaptation of immigrants in general. The author addressed this question in her speech presented to the 10th Annual Conference for Teachers of English as a Second Language held in Toronto in October, 1977. The first point which the author makes is that there are no definitive models for or answers to the question of the best means of educating immigrant children. Such factors as the social, economic and political circumstances of the children's families; attitudes towards the dominant culture; attitudes toward language and cultural maintenance; the families' long-range plans and aspirations for their children, are among those that must be taken into account when initiating a study of this topic. The paper goes on to discuss the four basic models of education of immigrant children: monolingual mother tongue; transitional bilingual; maintenance bilingual; and monolingual second language education. Pros and cons of these four models are outlined for various sets of circumstances. The article concludes by summarizing four essential points which must be considered in educators' responses to the diversity of needs, attitudes, circumstances and resources in English as a Second Language programs. Photocopies at 20 cents per page, $2.00 minimum charge. Subject Headings |