Question

Review the achievement mandates for ELLs in Arizona or in your state. In your opinion, are these mandates beneficial to ELLs? Explain.

Answer 1

Language is by far the most important element that helps the human beings communicate effectively among themselves. If a country has people who speak only one language, there would be no problem but in a country like America where people from almost all the countries live together for various reasons such as business, job, better living, education etc., it would become very difficult if one does not speak the language that majority of people speak. English is the official language and the society, education and government use English for communication purposes.

The problem starts with the immigrants whose mother tongue is not English. In a state like Arizona there are more Hispanics live and the children are expected to prove their language proficiency in terms of understanding the content taught and use it efficiently for communication purposes in order to join the mainstream in Higher Education and Job Market. The government has introduced English Language Learners (ELLs) program in the schools for the children who learn English as Second Language. These children are given 4 hours of special classes on English Language structure and Grammar. These classes are also considered as immersion programs. Although these classes help the students, in my opinion, children need to be with the people who speak the language and they will pick up the language quickly rather than teaching it separately because it would bring a kind of left alone feeling among the students who attend those sessions.

It’s good that the government help the children who learn English as Second Language. It’s also good that the students benefit out of these program. The schools should make the students aware that the program is conducted in order to help them and this would bring in more participation thus brining positive results.