Introduction: Becoming Bilingual

Summary

This video highlights the challenges faced by English language learners, particularly in reading, and the importance of effective teaching methods. It shares the personal story of Rita Moreno, who moved from Puerto Rico and struggled with learning English, along with the efforts being made across the U.S. to help students succeed. The focus is on research-backed teaching strategies that help children, especially those from bilingual backgrounds, learn to read and become bilingual. With real-life success stories, the video emphasizes the significance of understanding how to teach English learners effectively.

Takeaways

• 😀 English language learners often struggle with reading, especially when they don't speak much English at home.
• 😀 Many students fall through the cracks in the education system, leading to frustration and a lack of support.
• 😀 Research is revealing effective methods for teaching English language learners how to read.
• 😀 Teachers and parents across the country are putting research-based strategies into practice to improve students' reading abilities.
• 😀 Teachers are noticing a positive impact as students begin to understand and read English with increasing confidence.
• 😀 The experience of becoming bilingual can be rewarding, especially when students start showing progress in their language learning.
• 😀 The program is supported by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs.
• 😀 Rita Moreno shares her personal experience of moving to the U.S. from Puerto Rico and the challenges of learning English.
• 😀 As a child, Rita faced bullying due to her appearance and lack of English language skills, which made school difficult.
• 😀 Millions of children today are in similar situations, needing to learn English while their home language is different.
• 😀 Despite the challenges, there have been significant advancements in strategies for teaching children how to read in English.

Q & A

Why is learning to read in English difficult for some learners?

For some learners, especially English Language Learners, learning to read in English can be difficult because they may not speak English at home, making it hard to grasp the language. Additionally, help may not always be available, which can add to the frustration.

What impact did the lack of support have on some students?

The lack of support had a significant impact, with some students, like the person sharing the story, crying for a month due to the struggle of not being able to learn to read in English effectively.

What does research show about teaching English Language Learners to read?

Research shows that there are specific methods that work well for teaching English Language Learners how to read. This includes focusing on phonics and understanding the sounds letters make in words.

What are some indicators of success for English Language Learners?

Success indicators include students being able to follow along, listen attentively, and make progress in their learning. One example in the transcript shows a student named Indigo reacting with excitement when they understood and were able to read.

Who funds the Reading Rockets program?

The Reading Rockets program is funded by the United States Department of Education, specifically the Office of Special Education Programs.

What was the speaker's experience when moving from Puerto Rico?

When the speaker moved from Puerto Rico to New York at the age of 5, they felt isolated due to not speaking English and faced challenges at school, including being teased about their appearance and language skills.

How did the speaker feel about their school experience initially?

Initially, the speaker felt that school was not enjoyable because they couldn't understand the language, and they were mocked by other children for their English and appearance.

What challenges do millions of children face today when learning English?

Millions of children today face the challenge of learning a language that is completely different from what they hear at home, making the task of learning to read and speak in English even more difficult.

What progress has been made in teaching English Language Learners to read?

Significant progress has been made as teachers and parents have applied research-based methods for teaching reading, which has resulted in many students learning to read successfully.

How do some schools across the country show success in teaching English Language Learners?

Schools around the country are using evidence-based methods that have shown positive results. Children are experiencing success in their reading, with reports of them being engaged and making progress, as demonstrated by the example of Indigo in the script.