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My Story
On Dec. 11, there was a very nice letter by Craig Missakian regarding the issue of bilingual education. Missakian is absolutely right by saying we don't need to teach children in their own primary language if it is other than English. I also remember another recently published letter on your Community Forum page that humorously illustrated the awkwardness of bilingual education. It posed the question of how to deal with the situation were the United States to receive an influx of Australian Aborigines. Should we switch to their language? America is a nation of immigrants and virtually everybody came here from another land. And all immigrants, especially children, learned English with no distress. Therefore, bilingual education as the primary language of instruction for immigrant children is not valid. On the other hand, I strongly believe in exposing children to a second language at an early age. This is true for every child in America, not necessarily just immigrant children. Learning a second language could be extremely beneficial to children: It can expand their horizons, give them a broader view and also can improve their mental process. The Spanish language is a very good choice as a second language. The language is extremely phonetic and can easily be a substitute for the cumbersome teaching of phonics. This would improve overall reading skills and may eliminate the Johnny can't read syndrome, a disease that is afflicting many of our children in America, and which is rarely seen in other countries. The advantages of exposing children to a second language early in their life are innumerable, but to teach immigrant children in their own languages is absurd. Catherine Yesayan,
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