Which is a better solution for our non-English speaking

students?

1Susana PintoFall 2009

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Introduction

• Immersion versus Bilingual Literacy Instruction. Which is a Better Solution?

• This is of great interest to me because I came to this country when I was six years old from Portugal and I didn’t know English, so I experienced this dilemma first hand.

• With this Action Research Project I intend to see which solution is better.

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Statement of the Problem

• There is a lot of controversy over which method of instruction is better for English Language Learners (ELL) with regards to Literacy.

• Should schools use the immersion programs where a students native language plays little or no role or should they use bilingual literacy education where instruction is given in the native tongue?

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Review of Literature PROS CONS

• Teachers need to help learners identify skills that can help facilitate their learning (Reyes, 2007).

• Use Gardner’s multiple intelligence theory to achieve best results (Gardner, 1983).

• Students must possess both skill and will to read (Wei, 2007).

• Provide learners with new experiences to generate new ideas (Reyes, 2007).

• To non-English speaking students series texts with pictures is important (Avalos, 2007).

• Leave politics out of the classroom (Mitchell, 2005).

• Attention needs to be paid to the professional development of educators – some don’t know how to deal with these students or their parents (Fitzgerald, 2000)

• One article stated that researchers found only 17 studies were concerned with educational quality, compared with more than 450 studies examining types of reading programs (Hamilton, 2006).

• Maybe the focus should be on the quality of the education and not the instruction (Shin, 2008).

• Racist and against basic freedoms (Mora, 2007).

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Making Our Own Reading Camp• Increase the learners’ self-

esteem• Have interesting and

manageable reading materials (Balakrishnan, Hashim, 2006).

• Create awareness by showing them strategies they can use (Balakrishnan, Hashim, 2006).

• Develop good reading habits.• Find on-line technology that will

help with this literacy dilemma (Balakrishnan, Hashim, 2006).

• As one of my articles stated I want to make the “Reading Camp” fun for both groups. We will use computers for visual aids, make our own board games, have drama activities, and many more (Balakrishnan, Hashim, 2006). 6

Statement of the Hypothesis

• HR1 - Implementing an intensive language learning instructional environment with English language learners over a two month period will increase their reading skills more so than the group that is being taught in a bi-lingual environment.

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• MethodsParticipants• My proposed intervention is to work with two 2nd grade

classrooms in 2 schools (PS X and PS Y). Both are in the Bronx and both have children with the same language issues.

• They are all Spanish speaking immigrant students.• The area that they live in is known to be a low economic area.

Instruments• First I will give out consent letters to the principal and parents. • These will be in order to introduce myself and get permission.• I will use tests, running records, and surveys to assess the

students. 8

Self Assessment Survey

1. strongly agree 2. agree 3. disagree 4. strongly disagree

1. I like to read stories. 1. ____2. I like to read aloud. 2. ____3. I like to read information books. 3. ____4. I like to go to the library. 4. ____5. I like to watch TV better than reading. 5. ____6. I like to read comics or magazines. 6. ____7. I like to read with the help of an adult. 7. ____8. My parents read to me. 8. ___9. I think reading is hard. 9. ___10. My teacher gives me interesting things to read. 10. ___

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Parental Survey

1. strongly agree 2. agree 3. disagree 4. strongly disagree

• 1. I speak and read in English. 1. ___

• 2. I read to my child. 2. ___

• 3. I want my child to be taught in his native language. 3. ___

• 4. I encourage my child to go to the library. 4. ___

• 5. I buy books as presents. 5. ___

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Sample Letter of Consent

Dear Parent or Guardian:My name is Susana Pinto and I am a graduate student at

Brooklyn College. I am currently working on a project to see if children learn to read better using a students native language orif they do better when solely taught in English. I would like towork with your child since they are currently in the ESL program at their school. This will be a two month project where I will work with your child in a group setting . I promise that this will not interfere with any of their other school work. Pleasecheck the yes or no box and sign your name.

I thank you in advance.

Kind Regards,

Susana Pinto 11