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Letter from UCSD

Paul Oudom
San Diego, CA 92117

February 27, 1998

Ron K. Unz
English for the Children

Dear Mr. Unz,

I highly doubt that you're going receive this or even response but oh well. My name is Paul Oudom, I'm a student here at UC-San Diego. I just wanted to thank you for being our guest speaker. Prior to your visit, I was unsure of my stance on prop 227. I've read numerous materials on the topic of bilingual education, including the ones you sent to Prof. Cornelius. But, somehow I was still undecided. It actual confuse even more because the materials seemed to contradict each other. Being a minority, Asian American, I was leaning towards the side of the "Hispanics." After your visit, everything became clear to me. First, Hispanics are supporting this initiative as well. Second, you are right, if a system hasn't worked for 25-30 years then something has to change. And lastly, you "Sheltered English Immersion" program works!

I am the son of Laotian immigrants who did not speak English when the arrived. I am at the level of education that I am at right now because I was put into an immersion program similar to that of which you proposed. In my elementary school, I was put into a class of English speaking students. Which was supplemented that with intense ESL lessons. I was able to get away from the ESL within a year. I feel that it was the best thing that they could have done for me. Because of that program, I began to speak English with the same fluency as the rest of the kids. Also because I was fluent in English, I began to achieve higher self esteem with correlated into higher score in class. Being proficient in English is so vital to success in school, I'm sure nobody will dispute this. That is why I highly support your initiative. I have worked in schools as a teachers assistant in low income neighborhoods and I have witnesses children's faces light up when they are able to read in English. Imagine what it could do for their confidence through out their educational career. Once again thank you for coming to out class and for pushing this initiative.

If there is anything I can do to support the cause, please tell me.

Sincerely,
Paul Oudom