Research has shown that it takes children three to five years to gain understanding in a second language. By pushing the deadline to one year, however, experts believe that this will stifle academic development and prevent immigrant students from being fully competent in both English and their native language. There may be higher gains initially in English by moving the transition up sooner, but students will lose in development of content areas such as math, social science and science. Teachers, who are most likely homogeneous and monolingual, will be unable to deal with the diversity that this will bring to English-only classrooms. This puts the teacher in such a vulnerable position, and in a tenuously moral and ethical dilemma.
Some children now spend up to six years separated from English-only classes.
One year is time enough for children to switch, and I think we have to push a little harder on kids, teachers and parents, and place a greater faith in the kids that they can do it. What will be taken away if the initiative passes Tuesday, researchers argue, is a tool for success for one of California's largest growing populations, which now accounts for about a quarter of the state's elementary and high school students. Children need to be nurtured in a supportive teaching environment where they can explore without restraint their curiosity of English. The wholesale elimination of bilingual programs and the total dependence on a one-year immersion program will create a hostile learning environment. The ABCs to Bilingual Success Kindergarten Children come in with basic knowledge of their native language and cognitive development.