October 22, 1997

1 don't really approve of bilingual education because it really does affect people later on in the future. I know people now that are being affected with this situation. For example, if they go into a job interview, they don't know what the employer is asking because that they don't really have the language to communicate. If people come from Mexico to the United States, it is because they really want learn to have better skills. In other words, they want to understand and be taught the American way.

My mother wanted to change my sister, who is ten years of age, to bilingual classes. She had been attending English classes since she was in headstart. It will be difficult for her because she has been taught the English way and now, all of a sudden, she will be thinking and learning bilingual. I explained to my mother that she was doing a negative thing to my sister's education, and that it will affect her for the rest of her life. My sister does have a little problem becauase she is a very slow learner. Now she is attending special classes in her school, and it's even better for her because she gets person-to-person help.

I went around asking my neighbors, and I was really amazed because parents totally disapprove of bilingual classes. I agree 100%. I asked my little sister if she would lile to be in bilingual classes she said no way, because she would have a even harder time understanding her teacher in all her subjects.

I think everyone should have a chance to be taught english skills and communication for the ability to succeed in life in the future. Thanks to my parents I had the opportunity to attend English classes and now I am very fortunate I am capable of reading, writing, and understanding every thing an English, with no difficulty at all. I see people in my A.O.S class that try their hardest to understand what our instructor is instructing or is talking about. I also have the ability to read, write, and talk Spanish. I took one course in high school on Spanish II. I was learning what I already knew but much better.

Araceli Marquez