Controversial Topic Discussion

We have ESL (English as a Second Language) classes from EC (Pre-K) through 12th grade, and it is a help for immigrant students. However, it also takes time away from the student in his/her main classroom, where the other students are working on their assignments, while the ESL student is outside of the class, working on something else entirely.

From what I've seen of ESL teachers, they are normally more intent on teaching the language than helping students integrate and learn what the words really mean. Flash a picture of a cat, say "El Gato" is "Cat". But they don't think about the fact that some words in other languages have several different meanings, and only teach one or two for the word before moving on. Students become confused, and sometimes upset, because they don't understand what is going on with their languages.

Elizabeth
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only **