As the United States immigration population has increased over many years, the number of immigrants who are becoming citizens is increasing as well. Our country is known for the many diverse cultures that we represent. At the core of these cultures, lie families who have been in the United States for many years, but never received assistance in learning the English language. (The Foundations of Dual Language Instruction (Fifth ed., p. 8)).
There are many reasons that families do not or have not sought out assistance in learning the English language. Our country's reaction to newcomers in history is well known for being swift and often vicious, creating an anxiety in the newcomers. Considering the wide range of cultures spread through our country, we have to take into consideration that each culture has a system of standards for perceiving, believing, evaluating, and acting. Some cultures are becoming extinct and/or are valued so highly that learning another language other than the first language is of no interest. Another reason that immigrants may not have sought assistance to learn the English language is that they have not been provided with inviting or affordable resources. With that being said, families are enrolling their children in the United States public school systems before they have any or very little English language skills.
The need for accommodating English language learners in the United States school systems is growing rapidly. The state of Texas is one of the top areas in the country that is in dire need of Bilingual programs and assistance. I strongly believe that schools ought to support children to become fully fluent and literate in both their primary language and in the English language, and that both ESL and bilingual teachers have important roles to play in this process. Without the proper support, children will not be getting an equal opportunity in their education.
