Learning and Not Learning English: Latino Students in American Schools

by Valdes, Guadalupe

• ISBN13: 9780807741054
• ISBN10: 0807741051
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-04-01
• Publisher: Teachers College Pr

Summary

Focusing on the lives and experiences of four Mexican children in an American middle school, the critically acclaimed author of Con Respetoexamines both the policy and the instructional dilemmas that surround the English language education of immigrant children in this country. Using samples and analysis of the children's oral and written language as well as an examination of their classrooms, school, and community, this book addresses the difficulties surrounding the teaching and learning of English for second language learners. This comprehensive volume discusses; classroom activities; the amount of time it takes to "learn" English; how English language learning affects learning in other areas; the consequences of linguistic isolation; and how ESL students are tested. It also presents exclusive data on academic English development at various stages in a two-year process that raise important questions about current ESL teaching policies.

Table of Contents

Series Foreword	ix
Acknowledgments	xiii
Introduction: Immigrant Children in Schools	1	(1)
Impetus for the Study	2	(5)
The Study Itself	7	(3)
Immigrant Children and the Teaching of English	10	(19)
The National Challenge: Educating English-Language Learners	13	(5)
The Acquisition of English in Classroom Settings	18	(11)
The Town, the School, and the Students	29	(13)
New Immigrants in Mission Vista	31	(2)
The School	33	(2)
The ESL Program at Garden Middle School	35	(4)
The ESL Teachers at Garden Middle School	39	(1)
Challenges and Realities	40	(2)
Teaching English at Garden Middle School	42	(20)
Mrs. Gordon's ESL Classroom	44	(13)
A New Teacher	57	(4)
Mrs. Gordon's Return	61	(1)
Lilian	62	(22)
In the Classroom	63	(1)
Starting Out	64	(5)
Access to English at School	69	(1)
Sheltered Classes	70	(3)
Joining a Gang	73	(2)
English at the End of the First Year	75	(1)
The Second Year: The ESL Program at Crenshaw School	76	(7)
Lilian After 2 Years	83	(1)
Elisa	84	(24)
In the Classroom	86	(1)
Starting Out	87	(4)
Access to English at School	91	(1)
Sheltered Classes	92	(3)
Access to the English-Speaking World	95	(1)
English at the End of the First Year	95	(3)
The Second Year at Garden Middle School	98	(8)
Planning for High School	106	(2)
Manolo	108	(19)
In the Classroom	110	(2)
Access to English at School	112	(1)
Sheltered Classes	113	(1)
Access to the English-Speaking World	114	(1)
English at the End of the First Year	114	(1)
The Second Year at Garden School	115	(2)
The Transfer to J.F.K. Middle School	117	(1)
Manolo at J.F.K.	118	(1)
The ESL Class at J.F.K.	118	(6)
The Teaching of Other Subject Matter at J.F.K.	124	(1)
Progress Made by Manolo at J.F.K.	124	(2)
Progress at the End of 2 Years	126	(1)
Bernardo	127	(17)
In the Classroom	128	(1)
Starting Out	129	(4)
Access to English at School	133	(1)
Sheltered Classes	133	(1)
English at the End of the First Year	134	(1)
The Second Year at Garden Middle School	135	(4)
English at the End of the Second Year	139	(4)
Looking Toward the Future	143	(1)
Learning and Not Learning English	144	(17)
Implications for Policy and Practice	146	(1)
Effective Schooling for Immigrant Students	147	(8)
The Politics of Teaching English	155	(3)
Toward a Critical Pedagogy in ESL	158	(1)
Final Words	159	(2)
Notes	161	(2)
References	163	(8)
Index	171	(6)
About the Author	177