Bilingualism is this still a question?/El ser bilingüe continua siendo una pregunta?

I woke up this morning and was pleasantly surprised to see a "positive" article about being a bilingual being. I am used to the "not so great" tales about how bilingualism will ruin this country. I am also used to the "English as a national language" some feel the need; to use as their daily mantra. Never mind that at least in  half of countries on this planet folks speak more than one language......What?....... More than one language? What is this world coming to? Oh my stars in heaven........We may one day be................Oh dare I say it?..............Feel more connected to other human beings, culturally rich and thus more knowledgeable?..........Hush........That's just crazy talk............
In this article this particular journalist discusses how bilingual students need better options. The reporter  goes on to speak  about a particular student (which may very well represent thousands); who speak  English/ Spanish fluently but cannot read/write in the latter. As a result he/she struggles in classrooms and to many who can't see beyond this; he/she will not have a very bright future?...............And here is where I come in................

Confession: Only in North America would a person who speaks two languages be considered as someone who has no future! This young person has the potential of being anything he/she wants to be. Moreover we need classes that offer, already fluent Spanish speakers the "formal/academic" side of the language. Hmmm?.......Now where is it that students receive a lot of the "academic" side of Spanish and very little  in the way of acquiring language?.........Hmmmmmmm?..........If I could only put my finger on it..............Hmmmmmmmmm?..........Oh yes! Spanish classes!...................

When our monolingual students enter "foreign language classes" which is usually around the 6th grade; they receive plenty of the formal part of language and not too much else. By this I mean that by the end of the years they have spent in foreign language classes they will be able to tell you: the many tenses, accents and  lots and lots of grammar.

In a foreign language classroom the curriculum (here we will use the Spanish language as an example) goes something like this: how to conjugate  an "IR", "ER, "AR" verb, what is the difference between past/present progressive? What isolated words mean, what is "Cinco de Mayo?" Then perhaps where Mexico is, maybe a list of other Latin American countries (very little if any of the contributions Latin Americans have made to our society), days of the week, names of the months, colors, numbers, contractions, the Spanish alphabet and of course the ever popular "International Food Day"..... 

When our monolingual students finish these "foreign language" courses they may even be able to teach a grammar class; after all they have spent a monumental amount of time in this area alone.........P.S.They will only be able to teach Spanish language grammar to those who speak English..........Let's not get crazy and think and they will be able to teach native speakers of Spanish language.........I mean did you think they were taking "language acquisition classes?" or Spanish as a foreign language 101? I love those words "foreign language".......It's like I am from Mars for being able to speak a "different" tongue........But I digress.........

Now I realize that some of you were not raised bilingual or bi-cultural; and for this I am truly sorry. So let me help you see this narrative via the lenses of a  "monolingual" individual. 

Your English speaking son/daughter comes home and tells you she/he had English today; that is to say grammar and so on.......He/she proceeds to tell you what she/he has "learned" about language/grammar; and it goes something like this: I learned the names of colors, verbs, tenses, Independence Day, numbers, you get the idea..... 

Then you ask him/her to talk/elaborate to you, in the "newly acquired" academic side of the  English language; about  things he/she has learned. What you end up finding out is that your son/daughter; cannot string two coherent sentences together...........

Side bar: Now before we go any further we must stretch out imaginations and open our minds just a bit. This is really not a fair comparison at all; as the students we are talking about in this example; are well acquainted with the "target" language. In this case the "target" language is........you guessed it: English. Never the less we send our students to learn how to better "acquire"  language; and thus   prepare them for their future careers/lives.

Now it takes you a bit to absorb  what your child is trying to tell you; and by this time you are pretty  upset. "How is it?", you wonder, "That my child is supposed to be acquiring language; and the best that she/he can do is to recite the days of the week?".....So you would you:  A) Hire a tutor? B) Talk to the teacher? C) Talk to the Principal or D) Do nothing?...

I am willing to bet that if you are anything like me you would raise the biggest stink imaginable; and hold everyone in the school accountable.........Well my friends this is indeed what is happening in "language" classes today. It happens to monolingual students when they enter a "foreign language class". It happens to "bilingual" students when they enter our schools; not to simply  acquire language but to receive a well rounded education. 

The biggest difference however, in the case of bilingual students, is that their parents are not of this country and they feel; they do not  have any rights to speak up about basically anything. The difference is that  most of the people that  are not of this country; have neither the tools nor education to advocate for their children. The similarity is that this feeling of helplessness is felt by those families from this country  as well............ 

My friends, regardless of your educational background/cultural status many of us don't know how to access; the tools  that are needed to become  the best  advocates for our children. Trust me I have done the math..........


So it seems that in the area of education we ALL have something to loose and much to gain..............

So how can we change this so that ALL students are receiving what they need in terms of language?..............Hmmm?...........Yes, I am sure I read this  somewhere?..... That being able to speak the language that I am  taking classes in; SHOULD be  the "ideal" result?............hmmmmmmm?..........What to do, what to do?..........I  know!........

How about having Spanish speaking students who already know how to SPEAK the language;assist those who don't.  Oh wait....I am on a role...........And how about partnering our fluent Spanish speakers with fluent English speakers who are well versed in Spanish  grammar? These students  would  not only teach/help one another but..........Oh dear I say it.......Become.............. Friends?.........And begin to narrow that awful racism gap that ONLY exist to keep people down?..........Hmmmm?.......Oh my stars!............ 

What if the relationship that these students build in the classroom actually spilled out of the classroom and into the real world?..........Like having lunch together and spending time together?.......Oh no!...........Could it be possible?............... Okay you get the idea.


Having said all this. I do know that there are many wonderful teachers, staff, specialist and members of our own communities (regular folks like you and me); who work countless hours. These people (these unsung heroes) work  to ensure that all students (monolingual as well as bilingual) receive what is "equitable" for them. Let me say this again: They insure that ALL students receive what is EQUITABLE for them. However we need to do more and can't keep moving forward until we are ALL in it together.Until we make sure that we are all in it to WIN! 

Children are born a blank slate and it is up to us to enrich their lives......... Yes I am sure I read that somewhere..............