II

According to research, students in ESL-only programs who have not received schooling in their native language take 7-10 years to reach grade-level norms.

III

A lot of immigrant children have learning disabilities, not language problems.  They speak English just fine, but they are still failing academically.

IV

Older generations of immigrants learned without all the special language programs that immigrant children receive now. It was “sink or swim” and they did just fine.

V

Second language learners will acquire academic English faster if their parents speak English at home.

VI

The more time students spend soaking up English in the mainstream classroom, the more quickly they will learn the language.

VII

Once students can speak English, they are ready to undertake the academic tasks of the mainstream classroom.

VIII

Cognitive and academic development in the student’s native language has an important and positive effect on second language acquisition.

IX

The culture of students does not affect how long it takes them to acquire English. All students learn the language the same way.

X

Students should be strongly encouraged to speak English right from the first day.