The Debate Between Bilingual Education and English Immersion Programs
             Bilingual Education Defined.......................................3
             Bilingual Program Models..........................................4
             ESL Program Models................................................5
             California Proposition 227..........................................7
             Arguments Against Bilingual Education.........................9
             Working with Parents and Other Caretakers....................14
             Technology and Second Language Learning...................16
             Types of Technology-Assisted Activities.......................18
             Internet Resources for Second Language Learners............20
             Conclusion.............................................................................22
             References..............................................................................24
             Bilingual Education is defined as any school program that uses two languages. In a more theoretical sense it is any educational program whose ultimate goal is for the participants to be fully versed in all facets of both languages (i.e., able to listen, speak, read, and write in both languages). The definition of a coordinated, developmental bilingual approach has emphasized the goal of being equally fluid in both languages. Realistically, this has not been the goal for most K-12 bilingual schools in the United States. More commonly in the United States we are using the words "bilingual program" to describe a program that will provide literacy and content in the primary language, while building English fluency, to the point where all instruction will occur in English. These programs are label transitional bilingual programs as their ultimate goal is to transition all students into an English only learning arena. One of the down sides of these programs is that they are not maintenance (development) bilingual programs which are designed t...