Reflection for week of March 1st: Speaking in Tongues

Today we finshed watching a documentary called "Speaking in Tongues" which is about 4 different immersion school programs, three of them which are dealing with chinese and one spanish. This Program shows the pros and the cons of these schools. If started young enough these students can become bilingual and excel in both languages better than most of their peers. The parents arent so certain about these programs because they feel that might not retain their original language and could lose it and that in America English is a primary language that they need to know in order to be real successful. I thought that when the commants were made that this is America and everyone should know one language i really didnt agree with it. We are not just a one culture society we have many and it is important that we embrace all of them and be exluded them all, we not only hurt their identys but ours as well. After seeing this film I can see how these programs can be very successful and can help the children in their success of going to good colleges and getting good jobs.