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I learned English By: Yvette Valenzuela
I have just finished reading the letter from Marcelino Saucedo (Feb. 20), who wrote about how he was traumatized and retreated into a shell because he was made to attend a school that did not offer the benefits of a bilingual program. I also came from a background of only knowing Spanish, until I started school in Los Angeles back in 1969 where the teacher only spoke English. I remember trying to understand what was going on and eventually learning English so well that I went on to graduate from high school without ever retreating into any kind of shell. In fact, without the benefit of bilingual education I can speak English with barely an accent. My four brothers are also responsible adult professionals who are proficient in both languages. Bilingual education puts a child at a disadvantage, and the best way to learn English is to totally submerge that child in the language. It worked for me and I'm sure it worked for many other people who learned English in this way. |