Abstract

RAMOS CALVO, Francisco. Teaching English to immigrant students in the United States: A brief summary of programs and methods. REDIE [online]. 2003, vol.5, n.2, pp.1-18. ISSN 1607-4041.

Nearly ten per cent of the students currently attending public schools in the United States are classified as English Language Learners (ELL); that is to say, as students who are learning English. The most important challenge brought about by this population is to find the most effective ways to teach them both English and the academic content pertaining to their grade. The methods used traditionally did not teach ELL students either the vocabulary or the content needed for subjects such as Math or Science; therefore, they fell behind their English-speaking peers. It was necessary, then, to evolve toward a better integration of language and content teaching. The present article summarizes the objectives of the traditional methods, details the changes aimed at improving the teaching of English and academic content in the last decades and concludes with an explanation of the most widespread techniques currently in use.

Keywords : Second language learning; second language instruction; educational policy; minority groups; language skills; immigrants.

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