Bilingual education for bilingual students

Abstract

Reviews the book, Educating Emergent Bilinguals: Policies, Programs, and Practices for English Language Learners by O. García and J. A. Kleifgen (2010). The authors open their book with a question of language: they argue that students with a home language other than English should no longer be known as Limited English Proficient or English Language Learners , as both terms focus on students’ current linguistic deficiencies. Instead, they advocate for the term emergent bilinguals . This phrase draws attention to the reality that as students acquire English, they are, in fact, adding to and further developing their home language, which itself is a powerful tool for learning. This book is an excellent resource for policymakers, researchers, and educators who are interested in taking specific action to improve the education of English learners. It is also a book that could address a general lack of awareness in the U.S. about language, and that might help Americans appreciate that bilingualism is not a threat, but something that can enhance the learning of all students. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)