Part -1:
1) What are the differences between the terms ELL and LEP? What is problematic with the term LEP? Is there a potential issue with the term LEP? Why or why not?
2) While the population of language minority students is growing, the number of students in bilingual programs is decreasing. What are some of the reasons for this decline?
3) Describe "sink or swim" policies.
4) According to Rebecca Callahan's research, how are deficit based constructions of ELLs responsible for poor academic achievement?
5) What is a multiliterate learning community?
6) What is the definition of bilingual education? How is this broad definition both beneficial and problematic?
7) What does Luis Moll mean by "educational sovereignty?"
Part -2:
1) Which states have the largest enrollments of language-minority students? What are the profound implications for educating immigrant children?
2) What are some of the reasons for the largest immigrant trend in the US since the 1970s?
3) Although the public has always been divided over bilingual education, why is this truer today than ever before?
4) What are some of the reasons that teachers and schools disregard language-minority students' native language?
5) Describe the trauma many ELL students experience learning a new language even when they have caring and gifted teachers?
6) More than 40 percent of all teachers have reports that they have worked with students with limited English proficiency but at the same time, only 12 percent have had a minimum of 8 hours of training to work with these students. What needs to be done to ensure that teachers have adequate educational training to teach English-language learners?
7) What is the significance of the Lau v. Nichols case?
8) How has the Equal Educational Opportunities Act (EEQA) been instrumental in protecting the language rights of students?
9) What are low incidence populations?
10) Why do we need to differentiate between language-minority students and the larger category of immigrant students?
Part -3:
Please select one of the following questions and answer in essay format
1) Read the case studies on Manuel Gomez. Examine the history of immigration to the United States from the Cape Verde Islands. How did the immigration to the US impact Manuel? What was Manuel's experience in bilingual education? What can classroom teachers learn from Manuel's education and home life?
2) According to Christina Igoa, "a recurring theme regarding the inner world of the immigrant child is a feeling of exhaustion, not only from the sounds of a new language but also from the continual parade of strange sights and even in a new culture". As a classroom teacher, how could you try to alleviate some of the trauma experiences learning a new language?
3) According to Catherine Snow, "the greatest contribution immigrant parents can make to their children's success is to ensure they maintain fluency and continue to develop their home language".
This quote contradicts common advice given to language-minority-students to "speak English to your children at home". With research confirming the positive influence of knowing more than one language, why is there resistance to bilingualism? How would you use this information as a classroom teacher?