Argumentive Essay on Bilingual Education Essay

Abstract In this argumentative essay, the pros and cons of bilingual education in universities are both discussed and how it might affect the professor in dealing with non-English students in his class. Then we take a look at the opposing side on why would university students and professors benefit from bilingual education and what opportunities open up for them in the future. Then in my body paragraphs, I discuss my reasons for why bilingual education doesn’t work. Lack of instructors that are proficient in a second language and why these educational institutions don’t have the funds necessary to bring them over nor have the time to do so. Would you rather have a professor that speaks one or two languages? People may think that knowing two tongues is impressive and important to the students, but it could also bring confusion to the other peers. A student in an English class would feel more comfortable knowing that the instructor’s first language is English. Then by surprise the students find out that the instructor messed up the student’s attention by speaking in Spanish. Students will start to think, â€Å"I thought we were in an English class?† The reason why the instructor spoke in a different language may be that he/she has students from Mexico, the most common language spoken around here is Spanish, or perhaps Spanish is the first language he/she learned. University campuses nationwide always branch out to outsource the professors, but is that a good idea? Should they bring people from other countries to teach in schools and colleges/universities? Professors in a University should not be force d to learn two languages because the professor might have a difficult time understanding a second language and it provides a lack of expert professors. On the opposing side, Professors that work at a University have bilingual students and this presents the opportunity for him to not only learn a new language just for his foreign students but also will benefit the professor as well because he learned a new tongue that will open up other better opportunities for himself. First, having a professor who is bilingual benefits the students to better understand the class so they know what the professor is talking about and in doing so they will be in sync with the other peers of the class.â€Å" Besides that, a student who is exposed to multiple languages will be able to develop a better sense of appreciating various cultures and understanding societies.† For example, if he embraces the Spanish tongue, he will be intrigued by the amazing culture of Mexico and its fascinating history.â€Å" Added to these advantages, the student can easily use his native language in groups and he won’t feel ashamed of it.† The student sh ould not be afraid in using his native tongue in front of his group of friends because the student will never know if they are going to be interested in learning more about it, prompting the student to jump in and help in whatever way he can. In case he is just aware of one language, he may face problems of hesitation in expressing himself. Second, with the instructor’s new found language it will open up other better opportunities for him in his career like teaching a Spanish class, or landing a job in a prestigious university in Mexico. After all, now we’re living in a global world and so being multilingual is always an asset in firms and businesses. Technically and simply speaking, bilingual education is any educational system that favors education in more than one language. According to its proponents, the most important benefit of this system is that a student who is from a non-English speaking background, can easily learn English, owing to his language development in his native language as well as in English. â€Å"And isn’t it good to be proficient in various languages?† What problem does it create if a student is well conversant in English and in his mother tongue? It’s a beautifu l form of education, as minority speakers can learn English even while being able to strengthen their cultural bonds by being proficient in their mother tongue. One of the main reasons for what I believe is the heavy reason for being against bilingual education is, according to a source that I found, â€Å"It can  be difficult to staff bilingual schools with enough teachers that are native speakers of the second language and the upfront cost can be greater than an English only school because all materials have to be purchased in both languages.† For some educational facilities, it is difficult getting enough instructors that know a second language for they’re students. Like for example, here in South Texas there is an enormous amount of Hispanic students so the local schools/colleges/universities have to get enough instructors to take care of the increase in students that speak Spanish or any other tongue. â€Å"One of the problem presented by bilingual education is the quality of the teachers in the schools. It can be difficult to find enough teachers who are properly qualified and skilled in both languages to teach in these settings. For instance, some schools have hired teachers from abroad with solid Spanish skills to come into bilingual schools, but the result has been teachers without English skills at an adequate level.† Sources Used: (â€Å"Bilingual Education Pros and Cons†, n.d., para. 2) (â€Å"What are the advantages and disadvantages of English-only and bilingual education?†, n.d., para. 5) (â€Å"The Disadvantages of a Bilingual Education†, n.d., para. 3)