This paper describes the implementation of a bilingual education program teaching both British Sign Language (BSL) and English at a school serving 100 profoundly deaf elementary and secondary students and an additional 100 deaf students in the post-16 provision. The decision to adopt a bilingual approach is discussed, and while the approach was…

This report is made up of 20 case descriptions of tertiary level distance-delivered educational programs developed specifically for indigenous students in three countries: Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Included in each case is a description of the institutions and stakeholders involved in each course or program, history of the initiative,…

In multilingual nations, young children learn early about the social and educational importance that adults attribute to different languages. In Malaysia, parents express their values about languages by choosing specific kindergartens. Preschools' language values are reflected in the amount of time devoted and the seriousness of approach to each…

A discussion of the language skills of Maya-speaking children in Mexico describes the relationship of Maya and Spanish languages in this population's education and reports on a study of the construction of orthography by these children. The study first examines how language is used in literacy education and the difficulties of literacy in a…

A study was undertaken to examine the effects of teaching five writing rules on English summarization and comprehension under two conditions of reading instruction. The five summary writing rules taught included: (1) identifying unimportant statements, (2) identifying repetition of ideas in statements, (3) identifying lists of things or series of…

This ERIC Digest delineates problems posed by the increasing number of language-minority children in schools and offers suggestions for teaching children from different cultures. It is maintained that a group's language reflects its culture, and the uses to which that language is put are culturally determined. When children and adults do not share…

This ERIC digest considers three important issues for educators of bilingual students, specifically Spanish-American children. First, it articulates the ongoing debate about which language to use for instruction. Second, it examines myths about the negative effects of bilingualism. And finally, it presents supporting evidence and suggestions for…

A guide for Franco-Ontarian educators concerned with the provision of French-language programs for English-dominant students discusses issues in program planning and development. An introductory section outlines the theoretic bases and background for the discussion. Subsequent sections focus on defining the program needs and issues (questions to…

This paper discusses and advocates the application of structured immersion, or transfer instruction, to the elementary school curriculum in English as a second language (ESL). It is proposed that transfer instruction, bridging bilingual or ESL programs and the mainstream all-English curriculum, helps children transfer the concepts and skills they…

A recently implemented program in a decentralized provincial district of Papua New Guinea delays the entry of children into English-medium primary school for two years, during which time the children are taught literacy in a village-based school in their indigenous language, a pidgin, with the local customs and culture as the basis of the…

A study investigated the extra-curricular use of French and English by 289 anglophone and ethnic minority fifth and sixth grade students in Montreal. The students were divided into three groups: (1) French sector children in regular French classes; (2) French sector children who were recent immigrants and enrolled in a 10-month familiarization…

This collection of papers addresses improvement of programs for the growing numbers of limited English proficient children in America. Included are: (1) "Improving Conditions for Success in Bilingual Education Programs," (2) "The Role of English as a Second Language in Bilingual Education," (3) "The Role of Research in…

The role and status of English in the African country of Lesotho, where English is the second official language, is outlined. Topics discussed include (1) the place of English language in the country in general and within the educational system, including primary and secondary schools and each major postsecondary education institution; (2) the…

This study was conducted to identify problems teachers face in using English as the language of instruction in the early grades of Zambian primary school, and to investigate the difficulties young pupils meet because of learning through English rather than through their mother tongue. The first chapter sets forth the historical background of the…

A project was conducted to develop and compare two vocational education programs--a bilingual instructional model and an English core language instructional model--for limited English proficient (LEP) students in vocational education at Waubonsee Community College (Illinois). During the project, information and referral services and support…