For This project I chose to look at bilingualism in America. I questioned various people to get
their opinions on the following questions:
1. Should America (and America’s classrooms) be bilingual, or should everyone need to
learn and only speak English?
2. If classrooms were to be bilingual, what language in addition to English should be
spoken and/or taught?
3. What are the pros of bilingual education?
4. What are the cons of bilingual education?
5. In your opinion, would being bilingual give you an advantage over someone who only
knows one language?
Their answers are as follows:
Person 1:
1. Although I think it is great for children to be able to speak multiple languages, I do believe our classrooms should
be only in English. Since our country's inception people have immigrated from all over the world to America and
have learned the English language as their second language in order to be successful, contributing members of our
society.
2. If education began to incorporate bilingual classrooms I think the second language should be Spanish. It is the
fastest growing population and one of the most spoken languages across the planet.
3. Having a bilingual classroom in some areas of our country would help to meet the needs of more learners that
don't all speak English. It may also open up the curriculum to incorporate customs and learning styles of a different
culture to broaden the knowledge of English speakers.
4. The cons to a bilingual classroom would be that if the region that you live in doesn't have a large population of
speakers of a different language, other than English, the need isn't as great for the use of the second language.
The time spent learning the second language could be used to enhance other subject areas, such as math and
science, where our students have continued to trail behind other countries around the world.
5. Being bilingual would be beneficial depending on your region and your career. If you live in a region where it's
highly populated by a certain culture of non-English speakers then it would be a benefit to communicate with the
people of your community. Also, depending on your career, it could be helpful to speak multiple languages. If you
travel to foreign lands and are multilingual it will enhance your job performance for whomever you work for.
Person 2:
1. I believe the main language should be English. Our country is English. However our culture is so diverse that
being bilingual would be very beneficial for children.
2. Spanish
3. Bilingual education can be beneficial for both the English speaker and non-English speaker. The Non-English
speaker can learn to live in an English environment. The English speaker can be exposed to another language and
have their horizon broadened.
4. Valuable lessons may be slowed down due to language barriers.
5. I do believe being bilingual gives you an advantage in our diverse culture.
Person 3:
1. I think in an ideal world, yes it would be great for classrooms to be bilingual. However, we do not live in a
perfect world, so I feel if people are moving to America for whatever reason, they need to assume the
responsibility that comes with making such a large decision, i.e. learning the language most people speak, as I
would not move to a foreign country, not knowing the language, and expect accommodations to be made for my
personal decision.
2. If classrooms were to be bilingual, I think Spanish should definitely be spoken and taught, as this is the second
most spoken language in America.
3. A pro of bilingual education would be that students would be expanding their cultural horizons. I think it is great
how children in Europe learn so many different languages and are able to communicate with people of all different
cultures in a way that is most comfortable for them.
4. Cons of a bilingual classroom is that everyone would need to be completely proficient in each language so that
language barriers are eliminated. If not, the teacher would have to ask questions twice to make sure every student
understood, and again repeat the students' answers in both languages. This would take up valuable instruction
time.
5. Yes, I do think being bilingual would give me an advantage. It is always an advantage to be able to communicate
easily with people in a language that is most comfortable for them.
Person 4:
1.Only English
2.Spanish
3.Pros: we could talk to all the Mexican that keep coming across our borders. We can order properly when in
Mexico
4.CONS: It is hard to learn
5.Yes on the advantage
Person 5:
1. I think that America should be one language. BUT I think that, with parental approval, children could be placed
in bilingual classrooms. I think that everyone should be taught English and be fluent in it, and that all other
languages taught in schools be secondary.
2. I think that Spanish should be the other language, just because there is a great percentage of the population
speaks it.
3. Pros of bilingual education could include (in future reference after schooling): being able to speak and
understand coworkers, customers, or other people you come in contact with on a daily basis, being able to do
business with foreign companies, and having an asset that most businesses need.
Pros while being IN school: learning languages at a young age is better than learning a new language later in life.
4. Cons of bilingual education: more emphasis could be put towards learning the other language, kids may not be
able to have outside help while learning concepts from the foreign language at home (I.e. parents don't know the
language and can't help them).
5. Yes, being bilingual would definitely give me an advantage over someone who only knows one language.
There was an overall consensus that classrooms should be English only. But, if another language
was to be spoken, it should be Spanish as it is the second most spoken language in America.
Person 1 and 3 both stated that the people who moved to America made a choice to be here
and they should “assume the responsibility that comes with making such a large decision”
(person 3) and learn English. Most of the people responded that they thought bilingual
education would benefit students because they would be exposed to different cultures and it
would help out those who are not native speakers. The consensus of the cons of bilingual
education can be summed up in person #4’s response “It is hard to learn”, the various
responses to that question were that it may not be beneficial in all areas, it would slow down
learning, and it would cut into time for other valuable subjects. Although they all generally said
that bringing a second language into the classroom and teaching children bilingually, they all
said that being bilingual would benefit them in one way or another.
I believe that the answers from these individuals reflect the overall opinion of the general
population, they agree that being bilingual is beneficial but then have a disconnect when it
comes to incorporating it into the classroom as it may take away from academics.