and this is the benefits of bilingual education.

我今天要分享的是 雙語教育的好處

As most of you know,

如大家所知

the United States of America is referred to as 'the melting pot.'

美國被稱作"大熔爐"

This is because our ancestors came from all over the globe

那是因為我們的祖先

to make up the population of the USA.

來自世界各地

We're all diverse.

我們都不一樣

Because of this, The USA has no official language.

因為這樣, 美國並沒有官方語言

However, the majority of our schools are taught in English.

但大多數的學校卻都用英文教學

The students who speak a language other than English

英文不是母語的學生

usually feel lost and confused, but there's a solution to this.

通常都會手足無措 但其實是有解決辦法的

The solution is bilingual education.

解決方式便是雙語教育

In a bilingual classroom,

在雙語的教室裡

the teacher teaches in both English and the students' native language.

老師用英文 及學生的母語進行教學

The switchover is done gradually, over time,

這個制度逐步推行

in order to give the students time to adjust.

好讓學生慢慢適應

Bilingual classes focus on the students being fluent in both languages,

雙語教室 希望學生能夠流利的使用兩者

and holding on to their culture.

並保有對自身文化的了解

Sadly, a less effective alternative is being used

不幸的是, 現今帕斯科郡

in Pasco County classrooms today.

推行的卻是一個效果較差的計畫

It is named "English to speakers of other languages," or ESOL for short.

也就是以英語為第二語言 簡稱ESOL的計畫

In an ESOL classroom, the student is removed

在ESOL的實行下 英語不是母語的學生

from the classroom for a period of time in order to learn English,

必須撥出時間去學英文

although all of the other classes are taught in English.

即便其他的科目也是用英文上

There is a major problem with ESOL education.

ESOL的制度有個很大的問題

Unlike bilingual classes,

與雙語教育制度不同的是

ESOL classes do not focus on the students being fluent in their native language.

ESOL不著重學生對母語的流利使用

This becomes a problem when the family and the friends of the student

這對學生的親友可能會造成困擾

are not fluent in English either.

因為他們英文也不流利

If the student is learning English well and forgets about their native language,

如果學生英文學得好 卻不會自己的母語

then they will have trouble communicating to their family and friends.

他們便無法與家人及朋友溝通

However, if the student does not learn English well,

但是, 他們若不把英文學好

then they will not succeed in their other classes

其他科目上的學習便會遇到困難

because if a student does not understand the language

因為他們 如果連上課使用的語言都不懂

in which materials are being taught, then the content is completely lost.

更不用說是要理解上課內容了

It's a lose-lose situation.

這是個兩者皆失的結果

Dylan Garity makes this point in his slam poem called "Rigged game,"

詩人狄蘭加利迪曾在尬詩大會中 朗誦自己的詩-非法遊戲

by saying: "Learning to read in a new language

說到: "如果你學了新語言

before you can even ready in your own,

但卻連自己的母語都看不懂

is like learning to walk while a pit bull is chasing you,

那就像在被狗追時學走路

like learning to sing with the conductor's fist down your throat."

像在指揮家掐住你脖子時學唱歌"

Bilingual education is a more logical approach

相較之下, 雙語教育反而能

to teaching English Language Learners, or ELL students.

更有效的教育非英語母語學生

The knowledge that students get through their first language

學生用自己的母語來學習

helps make the English they hear and read more comprehensible.

有助於英文聽及讀的理解能力

According to the National Association for Bilingual Education,

根據美國雙語教育協會

in 2000, Oller and Eilers compared 952 students

在 2000 年,學者 Oller 和 Eiler s 比較了952名

enrolled in bilingual and in English immersion programs.

受過及沒受過雙語教育的學生

It recorded that bilingual children scored higher in English Literacy by 2nd grade,

研究顯示, 有受過雙語教育的學生 比沒有的學生英語識字率要高

and got that widened significantly by fifth grade.

且差距會隨著年紀擴大

This proves that ELL students learn better when they're in bilingual classes.

這證明了, 學生在雙語教育的環境下 學習成果較好

There are also economic advantages that come with being bilingual.

精通兩語也能帶來經濟上的利益

Many jobs pay higher salaries to employees who are bilingual

許多雙語人士的薪資都較高

and to erase the students' native language from their vocabulary

而如果抹殺學生學習母語的機會

eliminates this opportunity.

他們就無法因此受益

But, this not only applies to ELL students

這不是只針對母語非英語的學生

but also to students who have been fluent in English all of their lives.

那些母語是英語的學生

Being in bilingual classes will give the students this opportunity.

也可以透過雙語教室受益

Some may argue that, "Hey, students are required

有些人可能會說:

to take at least two years of a foreign language class,

"學生都已經 要上兩年的第二外語課程

why would they need this?"

為什麼還需要這個?"

Well, Dr. Sarah Elaine Eaton said

教育專家伊頓博士曾說

that if being fluent in a language is the same as being an expert,

如果...

then a learner may well invest 10,000 hours in their language studies.

如果要精通一個語言

With this being said, we should also know

一個人必須花約10,000個小時專研

that the hours dedicated to a foreign language class

而在這個前提下

within those two years,

我想我們應該也必須知道

is only 192 hours,

兩年的第二外語課程

so having this program will benefit every kid for the better.

加起來只有192個小時

(Applause)

所以 雙語教育對所有的孩子都是有利的