Authors: Lucy Tse
ISBN-13: 9780807740965, ISBN-10: 0807740969
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Teachers College Press
Date Published: August 2001
Edition: 1st Edition
This compelling book examines the often cited but poorly supported claims that immigrants fail to learn English, and the mistaken belief that immigrant communities cling to their heritage languages. The author reveals that, on the contrary, English is being learned at a rapid pace while heritage languages are disappearing quickly from family use. She shows us how current assumptions have a pervasive influence on language policy in the United States.
Ultimately, the author argues for an educational approach that effectively embraces immigrant communities as they tackle the obstacles to language learning in the United States. This unique volume offers a short, readable introduction to these issues suitable for nonspecialists as well as educators, researchers, and other professionals.
Introduction | ||
Ch. 1 | "Why Don't They Learn English?": Language Policy and Public Perception | 1 |
Ch. 2 | The State of English-Language Learning | 9 |
Ch. 3 | The State of Heritage Language Development | 30 |
Ch. 4 | Why Promote Heritage Languages? | 44 |
Ch. 5 | How Can Heritage Languages Be Promoted? | 59 |
Ch. 6 | Where Do We Go From Here? | 70 |
Notes | 75 | |
References | 93 | |
Index | 105 | |
About the Author | 109 |