-Caveat Lector- Dear List, Here's some data showing why long term bilingual education is the best thing for second language students. Sincerely, Neil Brick PS. also check http://www.ncbe.gwu.edu/ncbepubs/resource/effectiveness for a 96 page document that backs this up. Research has shown that the longer students are in two-way developmental bilingual education programs, the higher the students score on standardized tests in English. The second most effective program for second language learners is Late-Exit Bilingual Education plus content ESL. "...The elementary school program with the most success in language minority students' long term academic achievement, as measured by standardized test across all subject areas, is two-way developmental bilingual education. As a group, students in this program...reach the 50th percentile or NCE (National Curve Equivalent) in their second language generally after 4-5 years of schooling in both languages.... Students in well-taught bilingual classes that continue through at least sixth grade (late-exit or maintenance bilingual programs) with substantial cognitive and academic development through both first and second languages, are also able to reach the 50th percentile or NCE within 4-7 years and maintain their academic performance at secondary level in academic classes taught all in English." (From data aggregated from a series of 3-6 year longitudinal studies from well-implemented, mature programs in five school districts and from the Ramirez 1991 dataset, c Thomas and Collier, 1995) Basic interpersonal communication skills (BICS) refer to context embedded speech (like visual cues and experiential activities), which differ from cognitive academic language proficiency (CALP) which takes place in a context reduced environment (manipulating concepts and solving problems). (Cummins, 1984). Some people have made the mistake that once a student can converse in English (BICS), they will naturally perform well academically (CALP) in English. It has been postulated that BICS and CALP are two different sets of skills. "a) language proficiency includes proficiency in academic tasks as well as basic conversation, b) cognitive academic language proficiency may take 5 to 7 years to achieve, and c) skills learned in the first language automatically transfer to the second language." (Language Minority Students in the Mainstream Classroom, Carrasquillo and Rodriguez, Multilingual Matters Ltd., c 1996 p. 26-27) Collier's research (1987) supports the theory that LEP (Limited English Proficiency) students may need 5 to 7 years to perform well (like native learners) on academic tasks. Willig (1985) "concluded that bilingual education programs that supported the minority language were consistently superior...(and) produce higher performance in tests of achievement throughout the curriculum. Small to moderate advantages were found...in reading, language skills, mathematics and overall achievement (in second language tests in English)." A conclusion found in the Ramirez (Ramirez, Yuen and Ramey, 1991) study cited above is, "Spanish speaking students can be provided with substantial amounts of primary language instruction without impeding their acquisition of English language and reading skills....The data suggest that by Grade 6, students provided with English-only instruction may actually fall further behind their English speaking peers. Data also document that learning a second language will take six or more years'." (Foundations of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, 2nd Ed., Colin Baker, Multilingual Matters Ltd., c 1996 p.213-215) The studies and theory above show that for students to achieve the highest test scores, they need to be in at least late-exit bilingual education programs. > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Nicky Molloy) > Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Conspiracy Theory Research List) > Reply-to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Conspiracy Theory Research List) > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. 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