By: Kristin Buholtz

Bilingualism
History of Bilingual Classes
Bilingual education began in the nineteenth century; in
1839 the first bilingual education law was passed in Ohio
to allow German-English to be instructed at the request
of parents.
Soon other states followed the lead of Ohio by offering
instruction in bilingual education in languages including
Polish, Czech, Norwegian, Cherokee, and Italian
But by the time the mid-1920s rolled around nativist
attitudes and fears that were connected to WWI led to
having provisions placed on bilingual education and in
many states English-only education laws were instated.
The Newer Side of Bilingual Education
Important legislation took place when The Bilingual Education Act of
1968 was put into place authorizing bilingual programs to be offered
for students who did not speak English as their first language
Once court case that is a landmark in regards to bilingual education is
the 1974 decision of Lau v. Nichols, declaring that schools nation
wide must offer education that meet the language needs of students.
In both California and Arizona Propositions were passed in the late
1990s that required schools to teach limited English proficient (LEP)
students in special classes that used almost completely English
language. This would shorten the time for students to take part in
special classes, usually no longer than one year.
Case Studies
Does Bilingual Work?
The Case of Texas
This is is a study done by Christine
Rossell. In this study, the data
found advised that bilingual
education programs appear to be
the least effective for the ELL
students that are striving to learn
the English language. When the
students that are in bilingual
education programs take the TAKS
test their scores come back
significantly lower than those
students not enrolled in bilingual
education.

The Effects of Bilingual Education
Programs and Structured English
Immersion Programs on Student
Achievement: A Large-Scale Comparison
In this study the effects of
bilingual education programs
were compared to the effects
of SEI programs. The results
in this study concluded that
when using the Stanford-9 as
a measure of performance,
students in SEI programs
outperformed students in
bilingual programs,
consistently.
Structure and Ages of Bilingual Classes
Structure
Students in a bilingual
classroom will be taught using
their primary language while
learning English in the
classroom.
Ages
Bilingual education programs
offered for elementary
students starting with
kindergarten (K-5)
A choice of bilingual
education or ESL for middle
school students (6-8)
ESL for high school grades
(9-12)
What Teachers Should Know
When a student transitions from a bilingual classroom there is certain
information a teacher should acquire prior to the student entering
their classroom:
The students native language
Their proficiency level upon entering the bilingual classroom
Their progress and current proficiency level
Any information they can obtain about the support they receive
from home
The English proficiency level of their parents
Any information about the student in order to make the student
feel welcome and comfortable in their classroom
ESL Classrooms
Characteristics of ESL Learners
Lack of basic literacy skills to successfully understand
and grasp the content for their grade-level
Lack of ability to express themselves or their ideas
Carrying high expectations from their families about their
academic success
Loss of their own identity due to being in a different
culture
ESL vs. Bilingual Classroom
ESL
In the ESL classroom
instruction is given and taught
mostly in the English
language. The students native
and primary language is not
used often at all while the
student is immersed in the
English language.
Bilingual
In a bilingual classroom
instruction is given and taught
mostly in the students primary
and native language while
they are learning the English
language.
Advantages of ESL Classrooms
Students get immersed into the English language using
only small amounts of the students native language
ESL leads the student to start thinking in the English
language
Teaching the student English is the primary focus of ESL
classrooms
In most cases students in ESL classrooms are able to
learn English faster than in bilingual classrooms
Strategies for Working with ESL Students
I would apply vocabulary and language development while I am teaching
about language arts by having the students write in daily journals using
the vocabulary words we are focusing on at that time. (NTC, 2005)
I would apply guided interaction while I am teaching about social studies
by having students work together in a small group to present a
presentation in English. (NTC, 2005)
I would apply metacognition and authentic assessment while I am
teaching writing skills by having the students write a quick journal in
English, then go back through their written submission with them and
guide them with explanations and examples for any corrections that
need to be made. (NTC, 2005)
I would apply explicit instruction while I am teaching reading by having
students complete a story map of a book or article we have read. (NTC,
2005)
I will use meaning-based context and universal themes while teaching
how to create graphs by graphing different types of favorite candy from
the students culture. (NTC, 2005)
I will use modeling, graphic, organizers, and visuals while I am teaching
about science and atoms by having cards with the elements written on
them and adding them together to create the atom. (NTC, 2005)
I will use cooperative learning while I am teaching sentence structure
by having the students pair up and complete Dyad Activities where
student A will have the answers for student Bs worksheet and will be
able to provide immediate assistance and correction if needed. (Thrush,
1997)
I will use hands-on activities to demonstrate concepts when teaching
about science by having students fill up different sized containers to
compare the difference in capacity. (Christy, 2000)


Strategies for Working with ESL Students
Religion in the Classroom
Facts about Religions
Catholic
Catholics are based in Christianity
They believe that with the succession
of one Bishop of Rome to the next they
are connected with the earliest
Christians and with Jesus
Their act of worship is known as the
Mass
The structure of the Catholic church is
formed around a hierarchy
They believe they are the true
descendants of Christs Apostolic
community

Hindu
Hindus believe in four stages of life
Hindus follow five guidelines of
parenting
The religion of Hinduism is the worlds
oldest extant religion
Hinduism is responsible for the creation
of the practice of yoga
Hindus believe their religion is a way of
life that governs their actions
Facts about Religions
Buddhist
Buddhism challenges people to reflect on
how beings and things exist
Buddhists believe that nothing in the
universe is lost; that it turns into something
else
Buddhists believe that everything is
continuously changing; soon as safety is
in sight-something changes
They root the belief in continuous change
in the law of cause and effect known as
karma
Buddhists believe in four Noble Truths in
regards to suffering


Islamic
The Islamic religion is a monotheistic religion
rooted in revelations received by the Prophet
Muhammad
The Quran is the sacred texted of the
Islamic religion
Islam is now the second largest religion in
the world
The Arabic word islam translates to
submission; in their religion they submit to
the will of God
The Islamic religion is structured around
Five Pillars of Islam: faith, fasting, prayer,
pilgrimage, and alms



Facts about Religions
Mormon
They believe in wearing ceremonial temple
garments under their daily clothes
Word of Wisdom, a dietary code, prohibits
Mormons from alcohol, tobacco, coffee, tea
The Mormon books of scriptural text include
The Bible, the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and
Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price
Mormons believe in God, Christ, and the Holy
Ghost as three separate beings of importance
to their religion
Mormons believe in performing baptisms on
the dead
Jewish
For purposes of anti-discrimination laws
Jews are considered a race
A Jews ancestry does not have to be
Jewish for him/her to be a Jew
Most Jews consider other Jews
extended family
Jewish beliefs are structured around
Rambams 13 Principles of Faith
Jews focus on the relationships
between the Creator, mankind, and the
land of Israel

A Teachers Guide to Religion in Schools
Is it constitutional to teach about religion?
I do believe it is constitutional to teach about religion. As long as a teacher does not
imply her beliefs/opinions about a particular religion I believe it remains constitutional.
Why should study about religion be included in the curriculum?
I believe study about religion should be included in the curriculum because it will help
students gain a well rounded knowledge about the different religions that are
practiced world-wide. With the US having so many people from so many different
places, I think it is smart to teach about what makes up the people of this country
today.
How should I teach about religion?
A teacher should approach teaching about religion from academic view. Teaching
about religion should be done objectively rather than subjectively.
Which religions should be taught and how much should be said?
If religion is going to be taught in the classrooms, a good variety of the major world
religions should be introduced to students. Since religions have so much history and
detailed information behind them, I believe a general concept of their historical beliefs
and historical celebrations is what should be taught in the classroom.
Supporting Different Religions in the Classroom
Have students do group projects on different religions
that exist and are practiced around the world
After the students present their group projects plan a
Religion/Cultural Diversity Day-where foods and music
from the different cultures can be brought into the
classroom while discussing the traditions and customs of
each religion
Have guest speakers come in to speak about the history
behind different religions around the world
References
Arizona Department of Education. (2004, July). Education Policy Studies Lab. Retrieved June 18, 2012,
from ASU: http://www.asu.edu/educ/epsl/EPRU/articles/EPRU-0408-66-OWI.pdf
Beane, N. (2007, March 19). What Everyone Should Know About the Catholic Church. Retrieved June
23, 2012, from Yahoo Voices: http://voices.yahoo.com/what-everyone-know-catholic-church-
242294.html?cat=34
Christy, J. (2000). Helping English Language Learners in the Classroom. Retrieved June 18, 2012, from
Glencoe Teaching Today: http://www.glencoe.com/sec/teachingtoday/subject/help_ELL.phtml
Das, S. (n.d.). Hinduism for Beginners. Retrieved June 23, 2012, from About:
http://hinduism.about.com/od/basics/p/hinduismbasics.htm
Faltis, K. (2011, Spring). Bilingual, ESL, and English Immersion: Educational Models for Limited English
Proficient Students in Texas. Retrieved June 22, 2012, from Public Policicy Pepperdine:
http://publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/policy-review/2011v4/content/bilingual-esl-english-immersion.pdf
Following the Buddha's Footsteps. (n.d.). Retrieved June 23, 2012, from SFSU EDU:
http://online.sfsu.edu/~rone/Buddhism/footsteps.htm
Haynes, C. C. (2008). A Teacher's Guide to Religion in Public Schools. First Amendment Center .

References
National Association for Bilingual Education. (1998, Spring). A History of Bilingual Education. Retrieved June 18, 2012,
from Rethinking Schools: http://www.rethinkingschools.org/special_reports/bilingual/langhst.shtml
New Teacher Center. (2005). Six Key Strategies for Teachers of English Learners. Accelerating Academic Language
Development . Santa Cruz, CA: Alliance4ed.
Perles, K. (2009, July 17). ESL vs. Bilingual Education: Arguments For and Against. Retrieved June 22, 2012, from
Bright Hub: http://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/42460.aspx
Religion Facts. (n.d.). Fast Facts on Mormonism. Retrieved June 23, 2012, from Religion Facts:
http://www.religionfacts.com/mormonism/fast_facts.htm
Religion Facts. (n.d.). Islam. Retrieved June 23, 2012, from Religion Facts: http://www.religionfacts.com/islam/
Rich, T. R. (1995). Judaism 101. Retrieved June 23, 2012, from Jew FAQ: http://www.jewfaq.org/beliefs.htm
Rossell, C. (2009, September). Does Bilingual Work? The Texas Case. Retrieved June 22, 2012, from Texas Policy:
http://www.texaspolicy.com/pdf/2009-09-RR01-bilingual-rossell.pdf
Thrush, E. B. (1997). Interactions Access: A listening/speaking book (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.