California Immigrants Are Learning English - and Want to Speak English Better!

Do American immigrants want to learn English? Are the children of Spanish-speaking adult immigrants learning English? What are the recent trends in California and Los Angeles?

A recently released Census Bureau report, based on the 2007 Census information, shows that – shock, shock – immigrants overwhelmingly want to improve their English skills. It also shows that a slight majority (51%) of immigrants in Los Angeles claim that they can speak English fluently – an increase from just a few years ago. The study also notes that 88% of immigrant children claim to speak English – and want to learn more.

Yesterday’s Los Angeles Times editorial “Speak English? Yes, more immigrants do “ provides a solid introduction to the heated debate over language and immigration in California. The editorial also argues that immigration reform should include a provision to keep families united so the American children of illegal immigrant parents are not separated from their parents. Finally, the editorial concludes that both the United States and the English language continue to evolve and Americans should embrace change.

The fine editorial, however, could and should have called for both expanding and improving the quality of public education programs so immigrants – including adult immigrants - can learn English quicker. A better Census report also would have included the legal status of immigrants and gone beyond self-reported data by immigrants with evolving language skills.

The editorial’s strong, humane conclusion is worth repeating verbatim:
“American culture grows and adapts as new immigrants redefine it over the generations, and the same can be said of the English language. We should embrace that evolution, not hold it at bay with false and alarmist arguments about the threat to American values.”
Los Angeles Times, September 24, 2008 editorial

Doesn’t that sound sane and civilized?

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Do your EL/Civics students know about the electoral college?

How could George W. Bush be elected President of the United States? Really.

Let me be more precise. How could Al Gore win the popular vote and still lose the 2000 U.S. Presidential election to the second George Bush? The short, unpleasant answer is that the popular vote doesn’t count – and the only vote that matters in electing presidents in the United States is the electoral college.

What is the electoral college? How many votes does your state have in the real United States presidential election? If you teach U.S. history, EL/Civics, or just vote in U.S. elections, you already know these answers – and your students and friends should too!

Check out the easy to use electoral college map hosted by the Los Angeles Times.


Among the many interesting features is that the default setting, based on the 2004 U.S. Presidential election, shows Senator McCain with a clear electoral college advantage over Senator Obama. Amidst the daily national polls, it’s easy for U.S. citizens – let alone adult immigrants and citizenship students – to forget this vital fact. You can also go to the fine Wikipedia article on the peculiar history and strange institution called the United_States_Electoral_College.


By the way, I’m one of those folks that wants to abolish the electoral college as a sad legacy of both aristocratic ideals and slave-era logic. Direct elections work just fine. Since abolishing the electoral college seems very, very difficult, we should – it seems to me – at least switch from a winner take all system for each state to a fairer system where each congressional district chooses its own electors. Adopting this more transparent, honest “tiered” system would quickly reveal the huge divide between urban and rural America across the country. If Senator Obama wins the popular vote and still loses the electoral college, I expect more Democrats to rediscover their discomfort with the very undemocratic electoral college. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen!

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Does Uncle Sam Want Immigrants to Learn English?

Learning to read, write, and speak English remains a legal requirement for legal immigrants to become citizens in the United States. National polls also consistently show that over 80% of American voters favor making English the official national language. Immigrants to English speaking countries like the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and Australia also want to learn more English to gain better jobs, feel more comfortable, talk with doctors and teachers, and a thousand other reasons.

Yet funding for English language classes, especially for adults, remains quite limited. Government programs only help students learn rather basic English, often around 1200 essential words. Students can "pass" all their ESL classes and learn enough English to hold low-level jobs. ESL students learn to listen more than speak, and read more than write. These low standards, by the way, also include a very, very low level definition of "can read, write, and speak" English for citizenship. (More on this subject in future posts.)

Many states, like California, are cutting back on all their education programs. English as a second language classes face even more dramatic cutbacks, partly because the students seldom vote. On one hand, this decision makes perfect sense during economically difficult times. Recessions and economic fears force citizens and governments to make tough choices, and cutting funds for English classes for immigrants - especially undocumented (illegal) immigrants is popular. It's also very short-sighted and counter-productive. America is a stronger, better, and smarter country when we allow immigrants to use their intelligence and creativity, and we develop everyone’s skills.

" Uncle Sam wants you to speak English" reads a popular bumper-sticker. Uncle Sam, the traditional symbol for the United States government, probably does want everyone to speak English. The American people clearly want immigrants to know how to speak English too. A gap exists between vague desires and concrete actions. How will immigrants learn English faster if they are kicked out of school?

I saw this bumper-sticker on the way back from an English teacher's conference again last week. I also wondered about the driver. Does he support helping immigrants learn English? Does he really think immigrants who don't speak English will understand his message? Would a Spanish speaking immigrant, for instance, know who Uncle Sam is? Or is the driver simply stating that immigrants - who might speak two, three, four, or more languages - should only speak English in the United States? Or would he prefer illegal immigrants just leave the country? Was he inviting everyone to share his language and country, urging linguistic unity, or expressing a distrust of people speaking other languages? Would he expect French tourists, Japanese visitors, and international guests to only speak English too? Really?

Unfortunately, I never had a chance to talk with the gentleman who placed this provocative message on his car. I don't really know what he meant by his "Uncle Sam wants you to speak English" bumper-sticker. I hope, however, that he supports adding, not cutting, English language classes. We both would like more people to be able to speak to him and ask him questions in his best language too. How does the driver expect his wish to come true?

Perhaps if "Uncle Sam wants you to speak English", than he could find more ways to help immigrants and refugees learn English!

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Excellent ESL Teaching resources at TESOL convention

Time flies. Or, as the Romans used to say, "tempus fugit."

Five days after the TESOl convention in New York City ended, I'm finally having a chance to sort through the numerous books, doublecheck website leads, and evaluate materials that I picked up. Sometimes "the eyes are too hungry", and I went a bit overboard in collecting ESL materials and resources for advanced English language learners. Of course, English teachers love books, new curriculum materials, and free ESL materials. I also have the excuse of working as a consultant for a workplace ESL program so I went hunting for some particular products for healthcare workers.

Here is a short list of promising materials:

VSOE ideas from TESOL convention

American Speech Sounds program for Healthcare workers. Also www.eslrules.com has powerful training materials for focused workshops for non-native English speakers working in hospital, clinics, and across the medical field.

- software and textbook designed for foreign doctors and nurses

- great reviews from professional journals (medical, language)

2. Effective Practices in Workplace Language Training (TESOL)
3. Getting Ahead in the US (Living Language) – videotape/textbook series
4. New Citizenship DVD for future naturalization tests. This free DVD, perfect for adult educators, confirms that the new citizenship test will only require a "high beginning" level of ESL to qualify for American citizenship. Personally, I consider this an absurdly low standard that implies new American citizens can speak worse English than at least a half a billion English speakers outside of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
   Of course, low standards have many fans in the world of adult education and with many immigrant groups. More on this topic later.
5. The Center for Applied Linguistics www.cal.org continues to offer wider and deeper variety of resources for ESL teachers, especially for adult education.
6. I had several fascinating conversations about various English competency tests and their possible use in the workplace. The TOEIC test, on its merits, seems the strongest by far. Unfortunately, this test - used by millions in the workplace worldwide - has become almost forbidden due to lawsuits claiming discrimination in the United States. What does this mean? Millions of applicants and employees in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, France, Germany, and other non-English speaking countries have taken this test of English skills. Why? Because English has become a global language and competency in English has become an essential workplace skill.
   
7. But not in the United States! So-called labor and civil rights activists have promoted the concept that requiring English proficiency, as tested by the TOEIC, is discrimination unless the ad explicitly states "English skills required." This strange situation means that American workers can, and so often do , speak at a lower level than educated workers in Asia and Europe. What's wrong with this picture!!!
8. Software programs continue to become stronger day by day, minute by minute. English language learners, international ESL students, and adult ESL educators have more choices than ever. I will spend a solid chunk of time researching these language programs during my summer break. So far, however, it's clear that www.openbookenglish.com and www.spokenskills.com offer great values for administrators, teachers, and students. ESL teachers will also find www.lessonwriter.com a wonderful, innovative, and time-saving site.

More later, but I must return to a large pile of research reports that need grading!

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Obama Shows How to Give a Great Speech!

Obama shows how to discuss race in a calm, rational manner

Do you use current events in your ESL class? Do you teach American history, citizenship, speech, or political science? Have you found a way to candidly discuss the pervasive and destructive role of race in American history in a calm, rational manner?

Hopefully, you have already had a chance to hear Senator Obama’s eloquent, reflective speech on race and American culture. Faced with a political crisis of his own making, Obama tried to both distance himself from his fiery pastor’s sermons, condemn their ignorant accusations, and explain the source of his pastor’s anger and bitterness. It’s a masterpiece of modern oratory.

Can Americans unite to solve serious national problems such as collapsing schools, collapsing bridges, and the collapsing dollar? Will Americans find a way to develop to honestly discuss the role of racial categories in our history, acknowledge the pain caused by racism and violence, and avoid name-calling to affirm a common destiny? Can Blacks, Whites, Hispanics, Asian, and Native Americans move beyond skin pigment and group complaints to renew our nation? Is there a way to calmly, rationally discuss deep emotional gaps and economic divisions that still plague the nation’s diverse racial groups?

Senator Obama’s speech yesterday deserves to be seen, heard, and read and reflected upon. Tracing the tragic role that race has played in the United States from the sanctioning of slavery in the Constitution to economic anxieties today, Obama provided personal and collective examples with maturity, understanding, and respect. He also listed the sources of “white resentment” such as affirmative action programs, busing, and violent crime in urban areas.

Obama’s “A More Perfect Union” speech,seems destined to become a classic. I consider it a 21^st century version of Dr. King’s 1963 “I Have A Dream” speech. It deserves to be added to curriculum on many levels:

1. Classic rhetoric built around a solid structure.
2. Exceptionally vivid examples and memorable phrases
3. A clear, compelling review of the nation’s history – and noble ambitions
4. A poised delivery style, with exceptional eye contact, and clear pronunciation.
5. An outstanding vocabulary supporting a focused message for multiple audiences
6. A mature review of the enduring legacy of racism for multiple audience
7. An affirmation of our common destiny and founding ideals as Americans in a changing world.

English language learners, immigrants, and international students will also gain vocabulary, history, and insights from hearing, watching, and reading the speech.

Click on the link below to read or hear the speech.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/03/18/america/18obamaspeech.php