The need for ESL services in the United States has been greatly impacted by higher birthrates in nonwhites than whites. Its also impacted by the steady immigration rates in the United States. This growth in the population has greatly affected the ASL education programs in our schools.
In 1990 about one in seven people spoke a language other than English. By 2001 that number changed to 18% of the population.
This growth presents some challenges. In order to address the demands we need teachers who are certified to teach ESL in schools and in the community to parents. One of the challenges is to teach the second language effectively to motivate English learners to earn the highest level of proficiency in the language. Another challenge is to respect the native language and the rights of
the student . Teachers need to make a conscious effort to support the student's primary language skills and also appreciate the culture.
Today there is discussion concerning whether the spread of English is beneficial . Other cultures/language have concerns that English is a threat to the continuation and survival of other languages. I am enlightened by this information discussed in this chapter because I had no idea that English was a threat to other languages . In many countries English is viewed as the gateway to social and economic progress. So therefore the learning of English has socio-economic implications as well.
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