Language Boon Or Language Barrier? – thejewishweek.com
When the new school year opens next September, a group of first graders whose parents hail from such far-flung places as Russia, Pakistan, Mexico, China and the Caribbean, along with others born in New York City, will put on a fashion show at school. They’ll learn the names for articles of clothing, do an art project on the theme of couture and model their attire.
But rather than English or their native languages, when the children present the fashion project at their Brooklyn public school, they will be speaking Hebrew.
The students will be part of the inaugural class of the Hebrew Language Academy Charter School, slated to open next fall in the Sheepshead Bay section of south Brooklyn.
Read the complete news item here: http://www.thejewishweek.com/viewArticle/c36_a15074/News/New_York.html
Should Schools Be Teaching Parents English? – babble.com.au
Immigrant parents who don’t speak English can’t help their kids achieve. That’s the premise behind a program that’s sending non-English speaking parents into primary schools to learn alongside their children.
Is this another way of helping kids succeed or another burden immigrant parents have put on society?
Thanks to funds from Toyota, the programs in seventy-five primary schools in the USA are helping kids – and parents – without pulling one cent from the taxpayers. But if the funds weren’t there – and at the moment they can only support so many schools – is it worthwhile for Americans to pay out of pocket to have this program spread?
Read the complete news item here: http://www.babble.com.au/2009/03/04/should-schools-be-teaching-parents-english/
Elementary school English: Ready or not – japantimes.co.jp
Poor English skills and coordination with visiting English speakers are just two of the problems worrying elementary school teachers as the government’s two-year transition period to inaugurate weekly classes in the language begins next month.
“I know just enough English to understand what the foreign teaching assistants are saying, but some older teachers have no idea and they’re worried,” said a 29-year-old female teacher based at a public elementary school in Sumiyoshi Ward, Osaka, who wished to remain anonymous. English classes have been running inconsistently for sixth-graders at her school for four years, she added.
Read the complete news item here: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20090305f1.html
Scaling the language barrier – thenutgraph.com
THE English language is now promoting interethnic unity in Malaysia, albeit unintentionally. Malay, Chinese and Tamil educationists who were once natural enemies have now joined forces to oppose the English for Teaching Mathematics and Science (ETeMS) policy.
Politically, leaders in the Barisan Nasional (BN) are divided on whether to continue the policy, while the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) is solidly behind the call to scrap it. However, it can’t be ruled out that a new consensus may emerge after the Umno party elections.
Read the complete news item here: http://thenutgraph.com/article-2359.html
ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING PROJECT AT HUAY YAI SCHOOL – pattayadailynews.com
“Hello!” was the word that some of our Asian University students heard every Wednesday, for five weeks during January and February. The Community Service Committee of Asian University had organized an English-teaching project at Huay Yai School. Not only the committee members but many other students joined in this project.
Our students at Huay Yai School were from grade 4 to 6. We taught them Basic English, such as greetings, numbers, colors, time, parts of the body, etc.
The students were divided into two groups – G-6, and G 4-5. Each group was taught by a foreign teacher from Asian U, while the Asian U students sat down with the kids to help them read and write. They were happy and enjoyed this very much because the teacher and staff were very friendly.
Read the complete news item here: http://www.pattayadailynews.com/shownews.php?IDNEWS=0000008568