User:Gpanetti/Bilingual education

English Language Learners in the U.S.
As the United States continues to grow with immigration, there are more English Language Learners entering the public school system. According to the U.S. Department of Education, as of Fall 2019, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and Vietnamese are among the top 5 languages spoken at home for EL students in the U.S. However, Spanish is the most common language taught in public schools as a second language.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, the highest number of EL students are found in the lower grade levels known as "primary school" in the U.S. Until Grade 3, about 15% of students are EL students as of Fall 2019. After Grade 3, there seems to be a steady decline of about 1.5-2% as you go up each grade level.

Benefits of Being Multilingual (Health, Job, & Cultural)
According to American University School of Education, "Those who learn a second or third language from a young age are able to develop communication skills and a higher degree of literacy. Children who grow up in bilingual environments develop a keen awareness of how language works and have a stronger foundation for learning additional languages in the future."

There are also numerous employment advantages for multi-lingual speakers. The Financial Post states, "Bilingual employees can earn between 5 per cent and 20 per cent more money per hour than those who speak only one language. In a world where organizations are becoming more cosmopolitan, where borders are becoming more blurred, companies are increasingly looking for candidates who can speak more than English. Not only for the practical reasons of being able to communicate, but it also demonstrates a strong work ethic, a keen desire to learn, and a cultural awareness that is attractive to many employers." With immigration on the rise and international relations every growing, knowing more than one language makes you more marketable in the job market.

Health benefits arise also due to being multi-lingual. The Financial Post reports, "It’s great exercise for your brain, keeping the gray matter working in order to not only boost your intelligence levels, but potentially stave off dementia." Ecole Bilingue de Berkely states, "...being bilingual include things such as a faster stroke recovery, lower stress levels, and delay many effects of old to name a few."