The argument of whether someone teaching English as a second language should be bilingual has existed for years. Some people claim you must be bilingual to teach ESL, and some say it is unnecessary. Today we are considering if a bilingual teacher can teach ESL and the related pros and cons.
A bilingual teacher can teach ESL. It can give the teacher insights into learning a second language which can help students. It is important that the bilingual ESL teacher does not allow students to avoid using English and that the English immersion experience should not be compromised.
Many people that teach ESL find languages easy to learn. Often ESL teachers speak another language, and it may be helpful to them if they are living in a Non-English-speaking country. Is the bilingual ability of the teacher helpful or harmful to the ESL process?
Bilingual Teachers And ESL Teaching
There is nothing to stop a bilingual person from teaching ESL. It can be advantageous if the teacher uses their unique knowledge of language learning to help their students. It can also make the administration of the class easier. Judicious use of the student’s home language is effective with some students.
Pros Of A Bilingual ESL Teacher
An ESL teacher that can speak the language of the students they are teaching may have some advantages.
Bilingual Teachers Have Increased Cultural Identification
A bilingual teacher may be more aware of the student’s culture. Some topics and issues are taboo in certain cultures, and understanding these may prevent offense.
Students may relate better to a teacher who can speak their home language. They may view it as the teacher respecting their culture and language.
Empathy With The Language Learning Process
Learning a second or third language can be intimidating. A bilingual ESL teacher may better appreciate students’ anxiety and difficulties when learning English. This makes the teacher more empathetic and increases their drive to help students.
Although learning each language will be a different experience, there are commonalities in language learning. A bilingual ESL teacher may have discovered techniques or strategies through their own language learning experience. They can use these to help ESL students.
Translation Of Difficult Concepts
Limited use of the student’s home language may assist them when learning the rules that govern English. This is not an ideal way to learn a language, but some students find it helpful.
Adults and older teenagers that approach English theoretically may benefit from the ESL teacher translating some concepts into their home language.
Communication With The Students’ Parents
If the students are minors, it is helpful for the teacher to communicate in the home language. Family members may not speak English but are responsible for managing the child’s attendance and schedule. Giving them administrative information in their language will prevent misunderstandings.
Recommended reading: Is Being an ESL Teacher Hard?
Cons Of A Bilingual ESL Teacher
A bilingual ESL teacher that uses the student’s home language in class may have a negative effect on learning.
Immersion In English May Be Compromised
Studies have shown that language immersion is the best means of learning a new language. If the teacher offers too much information in the student’s home language, the process of learning through immersion will be compromised.
You can imagine a shy student who has a question may simply slip into their native language to ask after all what’s the point of going through the struggle of speaking in a second language when the teacher speaks the same language as you?
The Students May Have Several Home Languages
In ESL classrooms, it is not unusual for students to come from multiple ethnic and linguistic backgrounds. Being a bilingual ESL teacher would not be helpful in these instances.
Side not: one of the reasons that the acronym ESL has slowly been phased out in many schools is for this very reason – many students have more than one second language, possibly a third or fourth.
For this reason the acronym ‘EAL’, ‘English as an additional language’ is more common place now.
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May Prevent Natural Language Acquisition
Natural language acquisition occurs through exposure to the language without highly formalized theory lessons on English rules, grammar, and usage.
Natural language acquisition avoids the boring method of teaching rules. Students learn the rules naturally through exposure. This keeps them more motivated and interested in learning.
Teaching the theory of English makes the language learning process artificial and is the way schools have traditionally taught second languages with limited success.
Many bilingual ESL teachers are tempted to slip into the theoretical approach and explain the rules in the student’s home language.
Whilst this might have its place with some particularly keen, grammar minded students it is generally not thought to be the most effective approach for developing communicative skills.
The Students Avoid Speaking English
If students know that their ESL teacher speaks English, they may try to avoid speaking English as they know their teacher will understand their home language.
An English-only ESL class forces the students to use their newly developing English, even if they are shy and uncertain.
Although this is very challenging for beginner level students, it is this very struggle that kick starts the language learning process. Just ask anyone who has moved to a non English speaking country.
Conclusion
A bilingual teacher can teach ESL, and in some instances, the ability to speak a second language may be helpful. Care must be taken to maximize the language learning environment. The student’s learning should not be compromised by the teacher’s use of their home language.
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