While children may be grouped according to language skills for short periods of time, it is illegal to segregate them from other children on the basis of language. My child is already speaking English with his or her friends. There is a big difference between conversational language and classroom language. There are fewer language skills required to hold a conversation on the street and in the home. A different level of language competence is required to operate successfully in the classroom.
Classrooms are more complex in their language transactions than the playground.
It s easy for young children to learn a second language. In most cases, children are ready for English instruction in five to seven years. Students are placed in bilingual or ESL classrooms according to how much English they know when they are registered in school. Many students find it easier to learn a second language when they are able to use their first language as a stepping stone. The advantage to a bilingual program is that the teacher uses both languages in the classroom and the use of English increases over time.