A stipend to learn English?

[CTyankee]

Should new non English speaking immigrants be paid to learn English, in your opinion?

I work for Literacy Volunteers. Our agency is contemplating writing a grant to incentivize a group of ESOL students to come to class and do homework, earning stars for each homework assignment turned in (as long as class was attended the day the homework was assigned). After a certain number of stars the student would earn a gift card to a supermarket or a big box store that they shopped in. Also bus cards so they would have transportation to the stores.

There have been some voices raised against this incentive. They argue that we are supplying volunteers to teach the students English for free and the students should not get used to being "paid" to learn English.

The students are desperately poor. They often have a hard time getting to class. They could really use the gift card (it wouldn't be for a lot of money but enough to make it "worth" doing homework).

Many are not doing homework or attending class regularly. They are getting along with their own language just well enough to get by, but not well enough to advance into a job.

This is not a huge problem but philosophically some people are having issues with it.

[mike_c]

1. I think it's fair for any such agency to ask...

..."what is impeding folks from learning English?" The answers are what they should address. If there are monetary impediments, then a stipend might be the most effective way to resolve the problem. People should not get wrapped up in emotional responses to things like this. They should examine their objectives, the impediments to achieving them, and address those impediments, whatever they are.

[philosophie_en_rose]

4. Great post.

If there is an economic need, how are people that don't speak English supposed to go to class?

[CTyankee]

7. There are more than just economic reasons

What I hear a lot of is that some students feel that they get along with their own language because so many people speak Spanish in this country. They just get by,but not well enough to get a job and so they are stuck at the very bottom.

Perhaps the best we can hope for is that their children will do better. They are learning English in school, and of course become the interpreters for their parents. So the parents (or at least the women who stay at home)don't feel they "have" to learn English to survive.

[wtmusic]

2. No government money

Resources, yes. Pay to come to class? No.

[Captain Hilts]

3. There are a bazillion economic reasons/incentives to learn it already.

A whole world of economic opportunities open up to you if you learn it.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. Pay BOTH the students AND the volunteers.

[helderheid]

6. When I lived in Holland, they offered a 600 hour Dutch course for free.

All immigrants were required to take it. It was wonderful. Since that time, they have begun to charge for the courses.

[msongs]

8. easy to learn english without going to school

watch tv, especially kid cartoons, read comics, talk to your kids who speak english, get home study courses from special tv offers or by mail. lots of resources to learn a language that do not require registering in a school and going there.

can I get the government (the taxpayers that is) to PAY ME to go to school to learn another language?

Msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

[CTyankee]

9. We have free classes at Adult Education in New Haven

so all you have to do is get there.

This group is a class of women who are parents at an inner city elementary school. Our class is under the aegis of a Parent Resource Center in the school, so the parents get free child care for class for the preschool siblings of their school kids. OUr class is held at the school.

[Karenina]

10. That doesn't work well for adults

particularly those who are literate in their native language.

I took a free course offered by the city in which I live. I was impressed by the effort which worked well for some. Anyone who is literate and serious can make use of the tips you've provided but will require much more. Language is tied to identity. To become bi-lingual as an adult is a real challenge.

[CTyankee]

11. I have learned that for myself. I've been trying to learn Italian

which is a relatively easy language for English speakers to learn as there are many cognates. I thought it might be easier for me since I had had Latin and French in school. I took an Italian class prior to a trip to Sicily and kept up with the textbook and the tape after the class finished. When Italian 102 was not offered the next semester I was on my own. Frustrating.

I do find it easier to learn when I use it (duh) on my trips to Italy. But then I lose it again...

[roody]

14. Maybe, if you enlist.

[gollygee]

12. I guess you have to do what works

if your group isn't meeting it's goals because people can't afford to stop working to take the classes, then maybe that's your solution. It isn't about whether someone "deserves" money, it's about whether it works or not. Maybe it won't work, I don't know, but IMO that's where your groups attention should be rather than who "deserves" money.

[SoCalDem]

13. Places in Quebec, have done this. They paid people to learn

French. Link TV (I think it was on Link) had a special about it. The throry was to integrate people into society and help them feel connected to their community.